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I 


THE  CONSTITUTION 


llfformtiy  df-larcfj  in  l^mnica, 


(  KNOWN  FOR  A  TIME   AS  THE   "  REKOKMED   DUTCH   CHURCH,"   AND   ALSO 

DESIGNATED   IN  THE  ACT   OF   INCORPORATION,   PASSED   BY  THE 

LEGISLATURE    OF    NEW    YORK,   APRIL   7TH,    1819, 

AS   "the    REFORMED    PROTESTANT 

DUTCH    CHURCH,") 

EMDRACIKG 

THE  CATECHISM,  THE  COMPENDIUM,  THE  CONFESSION 

OF   FAITH,   THE   CANONS   OF  THE  SYNOD   OF 

DORDRECHT,    AND   THE  LITURGY. 


WITH  AN  APPENDIX 

CONTAINING 

I.— FORMULAS  FOR  THE  USE  OF  CHURCHES, 
II.— RULES  FOR  RECEPTION  OF  MINISTERS. 
III.— RULES  OF  ORDER. 


NEW    YORK: 

BOARD    OF    PUBLICATION 
OF  THB 

REFORMED  CHURCH    IN  AMERICA^ 

34  Vesey,  Corner  of  Church  St. 
1876. 


PKEFATOKY  E'OTE. 


In  the  year  1867,  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church,  which  ia 
named  in  the  following  pa^es,  dropped  from  its  ecclesiastical 
name  the  word  "Dutch,"  which  was  first  formally  assumed 
therein  in  the  year  1793,  and  added  the  words  "  in  America," 
60  that  the  said  Church  might  thenceforth  be  known  as  "  The 
Reformed  Church  in  America."  (See  below,  Chap.  II.,  Art. 
5,  Sec.  1.)  Yet,  in  order  that  the  absolute  identity  of  "  The 
Reformed  Church  in  America  "  with  "  The  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  "  might  be  subject  to  no  possible  doubt  or  dispute,  it 
was  also  ordained,  that  the  epithet  "Dutch"  should  be  re- 
tained in  all  those  places  in  this  Constitution  in  which  it  had 
previously  been  used  ;  but  should  be  inclosed  In  brackets,  to 
indicate  the  purpose  of  the  Church  to  discoui'age  the  ecclesi- 
astical and  popular  use  of  the  word  as  part  of  its  name. 


co:^rTEi^TS. 


ARTICLE  I. 
Of  the  Offices  in  the  Church. 
Sic.  1.  What  the  offices  in  the  Church  are. 

ARTICLE  n. 

Of  Ministers  of  the  Word. 

Sec.  1.  Who  is  allowed  to  officiate. 

2.  Students  for  the  ministry. 

3.  Examinations  or  licensure. 

4.  Formula  of  subscription  for  same. 

5.  Certificate  of  same. 

6.  Dispensations  from   the   foregoing   requirements   may   b« 

granted. 

7.  Candidates  are  not  to  administer  the  sacraments,  nor  be- 

long to  Church  courts. 

8.  Are  under  control  of  the  Claesis. 

9.  Examination  for  ordination. 

10.  Formula  for  same. 

11.  i5anner  of  ordination,  and  certificate  of  same. 

12.  Duties  of  ministerial  office. 

13.  Forbids  ordination  sine  titulo. 

14.  A  minister  may  be  declared  emeritus. 

15.  How  a  dismission  is  to  be  obtained. 

16.  Equality  of  all  ministers. 

17.  Whom  vacant  churches  may  invite  to  officiate. 

18.  What  licentiates    or   ministers  may  be    received   by  the 

Classes. 

19.  Examination    of    licentiates    and    ministers    from    other 

churches. 

C5) 


b  CONTENTS. 

ARTICLE  in. 

4 

Of  Teachers  in  Theology. 

Sbc.  1.  By  whom  and  how  they  are  to  be  appointed, 
3.  Terms  of  the  office. 

3.  Formula  of  subscription  for  such. 

4.  Cannot  be  pastors  or  members  of  any  ecclesiastical  assembly. 

5.  Mode  of  resi^ninf?  the  office. 

6.  Ecclesiastical  relations  of  such. 

ARTICLE  IV.  V 

Of  the  Offices  of  Elders  and  Deacons. 

Sec.  1.  Duties  of  the  Elders. 

2.  Duties  of  the  Deacons.  '^ 

3.  Who  are  eligible  to  these  offices. 

4.  Mode  of  election  in  forming  new  churches. 

5.  Modes  of  election  in  churches  already  organized. 

6.  Term  of  office  limited. 

7.  One-half  of  the  number  to  be  elected  annually. 

ARTICLE  V. 
Of  Ecclesiastical  Assemblies  in  General. 

Sec.  1.  Specifies  three  kinds. 

2.  What  business  may  be  done. 

3.  Must  begin  and  conclude  with  prayer. 

4.  Members  must  have  credentials  signed  by  those  who  send 

them. 

5.  The  officers  and  their  duties. 

6.  The  jurisdiction  of  each  kind  of  assembly. 

7.  Protests  forbidden. 

ARTICLE  VI. 
Of  Consistories. 

Sbc.  1.  Who  form  a  Consistory. 

2.  The  joint  and  the  respective  powers  of  Elders  and  Deacons. 

3.  Not  to  be  constituted  without  advice  of  Classis. 

4.  What  constitutes  a  quorum. 


CONTENTS.  I 

5.  Duties  of  Ministers  and  Bidets— censura  morum. 

6.  Terms  of  admission  to  full  communion. 

7.  Eegistries  to  be  kept  and  reports  made. 

8.  Minutes  to  be  kept  and  laid  before  Classis. 

9.  Members  removing  must  obtain  a  certificate  of  dismission. 
10.  Consistories  have  the  right  to  call  ministers. 

IX,  Steps  to  be  taken  in  making  a  call. 

12.  Form  of  a  call. 

13.  fleidelbergh  Catechism  to  be  explained. 

14.  Ipso  facto  dismissions. 

15.  Of  Consistories  united  in  calling  a  minister. 

16.  Great  Consistory  and  its  powers. 


ARTICLE  VII. 
Of  the  Classis. 

Sec.  1.  What  constitutes  a  Classis. 

2.  Pov?er8  of  a  Classis. 

3.  Its  examination  of  students  and  candidates. 

4.  Subscriptions  to  the  formulas  to  be  recorded. 

5.  Special  meetings. 

6.  Ordinary  meetings. 

7.  Yearly  inquiries  to  be  made  of  each  minister  and  elder,  and 

answer  recorded. 


ARTICLE  Vm. 
Of  the,  Particular  Synod. 

Skc.  1.  Its  Constitution— Quorum. 

2.  Its  powers. 

3.  Correspondence  with  other  Synods. 

4.  Deputatus  or  Commissioner  of  Synod. 

5.  To  inspect  Classical  minutes,  and  report  to  General  Synod. 

6.  Stated  and  special  meetings. 

ARTICLE  IX. 


Of  the  General  Synod. 

Sec.  1.  Its  Constitution. 

2.  Condition  of  membership. 


CONTENTS. 

3.  Its  quorum. 

4.  Its  powers. 

5.  May  graut  dispensations  to  Classes  in  foreif,'n  mission  fieldf. 

6.  How  a  special  meeting  may  be  called. 


ARTICLE  X. 

Of  Customs  and  Usages. 

Sec.  1.  How  baptism  is  to  be  administered. 

2.  How  tbe  Lord's  Supper  is  to  be  administered. 

3.  How  ol'ten  tbe  Lord's  Supper  is  to  be  administered. 

4.  The  order  of  worship  prescribed. 

5.  What  Psalmody  may  be  used. 


ARTICLE  XI. 

Of  Discipline  in  General. 

Sec.  1.  Nature  and  object  of  discipline. 

2.  Founded  only  upon  Scripture. 

3.  Who  are  amenable  to  the  Church. 


ARTICLE  Xn. 
Of  Offences. 

Sec.  1.  "What  are  private  oflences. 

2.  Preliminary  proceedings  required. 

3.  Penalty  for  neglect  of  these. 

4.  Public  offences  defined. 

5.  In  these,  no  previous  steps  required. 

6.  What  is  fama  clamosa. 

7.  Principal  offences  for  which  the  punishment  is  suspension, 

or  removal  from  office. 
a  Rule  in  1  Tim.  v.  19,  to  be  observed. 
9.  Duty  of  fonsistories  in  case  the  minister  has  committed 

public  gross  sin. 
10.  Duty  of  Consistories  in  case  an  elder  or  deacon  is  thus 

guilty. 
11.  Conviction  of  crime  by  a  civil  court  works  suspension  ipso 

facto. 


CONTENTS. 

ARTICLE   Xm. 

Of  Process  and  Trial. 

8kc.  1.  Waye  in  which  process  may  begin. 

8.  Charges  must  be  accurately  defined  and  specifled. 

3.  Caution  to  be  used  in  receiving  accusations. 

4.  How  citations  are  to  be  issued. 

5.  Eights  of  the  accused. 

6.  Nature  of  a  second  citation  when  the  first  is  disregarded. 

7.  Witnesses  to  be  sworn  or  aflirmed. 

8.  How  many  required— their  evidence  to  be  recorded. 

9.  Statute  of  limitation. 

10.  What  counsel  may  be  employed. 

11.  When  suspension  or  excommunication  may  be  imposed. 

12.  The  various  steps  in  excommunication. 

13.  The  way  of  restoring  a  penitent  excommunicated  person. 


ARTICLE  XIV. 
Appeals  and  Complaints. 

Sec.  1.  Individuals  or  judicatories  may  appeal. 

2.  Notice  of  intention  to  appeal  must  be  given. 

3.  The  appeal  and  reasons  of  appeal  must  be  sent  to  the  pres- 

ident of  the  body  appealed  to. 

4.  An  appeal  may  lie  over  till  another  meeting. 

5.  Judicatories  trying  appeals  must  record  the  reasons  for  their 

decisions. 

6.  Judicatories  whose  decision  is  appealed  from  must  transmit 

a  certified  copy  of  their  action  to  the  next  higher  court. 

7.  Judicatories   may    send    commissioners    to    explain    their 

action. 

8.  In  certain  cases.  Particular  Synods  are  courts  of  final  appeal. 

9.  Objections  to  incidental  decisions  must  be  noted. 

10.  Voters  in  a  lower  court  not  to  vote  in  the  higher  in   an 

appellate  case. 

11.  Complaints  allowed  from  others  than  the  parties. 

12.  Such  complaints  bring  up  the  whole  case. 

13.  Notice  of  complaint  must  be  given. 


10  CONTENTS. 

ARTICLE  XV. 

Of  Rules  and  Amendments. 

Sec.  1.  General  Synod  authorized  to  do  what  is  needful  to  carry  the 
Constitution  into  effect. 
8.  How  alterations  may  be  made. 


INTEODUCTIO]!T, 


For  the  maintenance  of  good  order  in  the  Church  of 
Christ,  it  is  necessary  there  should  be  certain  Offices 
and  AssemUies,  and  a  strict  attention  to  Doctrines^ 
Sacraments,  Usages  and  Christian  Discipline;  of  all 
which  the  following  ecclesiastical  ordinances  particu 
larly  treat. 

ARTICLE  I. 
Of  the  Offices  in  the  Church. 
Sec.  1.  The  Offices  in  the  Church  are  fourfold,  viz : 

1.  The  Office  of  Ministers  of  the  Word. 

2.  The  Office  of  Teachers  of  Theology. 

3.  The  Office  of  Elders. 

4.  The  Office  of  Deacons: 

ABTICLE  II. 
Of  Ministers  of  the  Word. 

Sec.  1.  No  person  shall  be  allowed  to  exercise  the  of- 
fice of  a  Minister,  without  being  thereinto  regularly  in- 
ducted, according  to  the  Word  of  God,  and  the  order  es- 
tablished by  the  Church. 

Sec.  2.  Every  person  contemplating  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  before  he  commences  his  course  of  Theological 
studies,  shall  famish  satisfactory  evidence  of  his  being  a 
member,  in  full  communion  and  in  good  standing,  of  a 
Reformed  Protectant  Church  ;  of  his  piety,  abilities  and 

(11) 


12  CONSTITUTION. 

literary  attainments  ;  and  thereupon  shall  be  admitted 
into  one  of  the  Theoloprical  Schools  ;  and,  during  the 
prosecution  of  his  studies  there,  shall  be  subject  to  the 
rules  and  regulations  thereof;  and,  when  he  shall  have 
completed  the  prescribed  course  and  term  of  Theological 
studies,  shall  be  admitted  to  an  examination  according  to 
the  regulations  of  the  schools,  as  established  by  the 
General  Synod  ;  and,  if  found  qualified,  shall  receive  a 
professorial  certificate  to  that  effect,  which  shall  entitle 
him  to  an  examination  for  licensure  before  the  Claesis  to 
which  he  belongs. 

Sec.  3.  In  the  examination,  strict  attention  shall  be 
paid  to  the  attainments  of  the  student,  not  only  in  the 
original  languages  of  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  in  Biblical 
literature,  in  composition,  and  his  method  of  sermonizing, 
but  he  shall  be  especially  examined  respecting  his  know- 
ledge in  Theology,  his  orthodoxy,  his  piety,  and  his 
views  in  desiring  to  become  a  preacher  of  the  Gospel. 

Sec.  4.  Whoever,  upon  examination,  shall  be  approved 
by  the  Classis,  must,  before  he  is  licensed,  attest  his  ad- 
herence to  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel,  by  subscribing  the 
following  formula,  viz  : 

"  We,  the  underwritten,  testify,  that  the  Heidelberg 
Catechism,  and  the  Confession  of  the  Netherland  churches, 
as  also  the  Canons  of  the  National  Synod  of  Dordrecht, 
held  in  the  years  1618  and  1619,  are  fully  comformable  to 
the  Word  of  God.  We  promise,  moreover,  that,  as  far  as 
we  are  able,  we  will,  with  all  faithfulness,  teach  and  de- 
fend, both  in  public  and  private,  the  doctrines  established 
in  the  standards  aforesaid.  And,  should  ever  any  part  of 
these  doctrines  appear  to  us  dubious,  we  will  not  divulge 
the  same  to  the  people,  nor  disturb  the  peace  of  the 
Church,  or  of  any  community  ;  but  will  communicate  our 
sentiments  to  the  ecclesiastical  judicatories  under  which 


MINISTERS.  13 

we  stand,  and  subject  ourselves  to  the  counsel  and  sen- 
tence of  the  same." 

Sec  5.  After  subscribing  the  aforesaid  formula,  the 
candidate  shall  be  entitled  to  a  certificate,  or  testimonial, 
signed  by  the  President  of  the  Classis  before  which  the 
examination  is  held,  containing  a  license  to  preach  the 
Gospel ;  which  license  may,  for  cause,  be  revoked  by  the 
Classis. 

Sec.  6.  Any  person  of  whose  gifts,  piety  and  promise  of 
usefulness  the  Classis  is  satisfied,  may  be  recommended 
by  the  same  to  the  General  Synod  for  a  dispensation  from 
any  of  the  above  requirements  as  to  study.  Such  recom- 
mendation shall  always  be  accompanied  by  a  full  state- 
ment of  the  reasons  for  the  same.  And  no  dispensation 
shall  in  any  case  be  granted  except  by  the  General  Synod, 
and  on  the  recommendation  of  the  Classis. 

Sec.  7.  A  candidate  for  the  ministry  may  not,  under  any 
pretence  whatever,  administer  the  sacraments  ;  nor  can 
he  be  a  delegate  to  represent  a  church  in  any  ecclesiastical 
assembly. 

Sec.  8.  Every  candidate  for  the  ministry  is  to  consider 
himself  under  the  immediate  direction  of  the  Classis  which 
examined  him,  and  is  to  visit  such  congregations,  and 
preach  in  those  places  to  which  the  Classis  shall  send 
him  ;  but,  if  no  particular  directions  are  given,  he  may 
preach  at  his  own  discretion  in  any  congregation  that 
eh  all  invite  him. 

Sec.  9.  A  candidate  who  has  accepted  a  call,  must  be 
examined  for  his  becoming  a  minister.  In  this  final  ex- 
amination, besides  a  repetition  of  his  previous  trials  in 
composition  and  sermonizing,  the  original  languages  of 
the  Sacred  Scriptures,  Biblical  literature,  and  his  know- 
ledge of  Theology,  as  well  Didactic  as  Polemic,  he  shall  be 
interrogated  respecting  the  nature  and  administration  of 


14  CONSTITUTION. 

the  Sacraments,  the  duties  of  the  ministry,  and  his  know- 
ledge of  Ecclesiastical  History,  and  of  Church  Government. 

Sec.  10.  Upon  giving  satisfaction  in  this  examination, 
the  candidate  shall  subscribe  the  following  formula,  viz : 

"  We,  the  underwritten,  in  becoming  Ministers  of  the 
Word  of  God,  within  the  bounds  of  the  Classis  of  N.  N.,  do 
hereby  sincerely,  and  in  good  conscience  bei^H-e  the  Lord, 
declare,  by  this  our  subscription,  that  we  heartily  believe, 
and  are  persuaded,  that  all  the  articles  and  points  of  doc- 
trine contained  in  the  Confession  and  Catechism  of  the 
Reformed  (Dutch)  Church,  together  with  the  explanation 
of  some  points  of  the  aforasaid  doctrine  made  in  the  Na- 
tional Synod,  held  at  Dordrecht,  in  the  year  1619,  do  fully 
agree  with  the  Word  of  God.  We  promise,  therefore, 
diligently  to  teach,  and  faithfully  to  defend,  the  aforesaid 
doctrine,  without  either  directly  or  indirectly  contradicting 
the  same  by  our  public  preaching  or  writings.  We  de- 
clare, moreover,  that  we  not  only  reject  all  errors  that 
militate  against  this  doctrine,  and  particularly  those 
which  are  condemned  in  the  above-mentioned  Synod,  but 
that  we  are  disposed  to  refute  and  contradict  them,  and  to 
exert  ourselves  in  keeping  the  Church  pure  from  such 
errors.  And,  if  hereafter,  any  difficulties  or  different 
sentiments  respecting  the  aforesaid  doctrine  should  arise 
in  our  minds,  we  promise  that  we  will  neither  publicly 
nor  privately  propose,  teach  or  defend  the  same,  either  by 
preaching  or  writing,  until  we  have  first  revealed  such 
sentiment  to  the  Classis,  that  the  same  may  be  there 
examined  ;  being  ready  always  cheerfully  to  submit  to 
the  judgment  of  the  Classis,  under  the  penalty,  in  case  of 
refusal,  to  he  ipso  facto  suspended  from  our  office.  And, 
if  at  any  time  the  Consistory,  or  Classis,  upon  sufficient 
grounds  of  suspicion,  and  to  preserve  the  uniformity  and 
purity  of  doctrine,  may  deem  it  proper  to  require  of  us  an 


MmiSTEES,  15 

explanation  of  our  sentiments  respecting  any  particular 
article  of  the  Confession  of  Faith,  the  Catechism,  or  the 
explanation  of  the  National  Synod,  we  do  hereby  promise 
to  be  alwcys  willing  and  ready  to  comply  with  such  re- 
quisition, under  the  penalty  above  mentioned,  reserving, 
however,  to  ourselves,  the  right  of  an  appeal,  whenever 
we  shall  conceive  ourselves  aggrieved  by  the  action  of  the 
Consistory  or  Classis  ;  and,  until  a  decision  is  made  upon 
such  appeal,  we  will  acquiesce  in  the  determination  and 
judgment  already  passed." 

Sec.  11.  The  Classis  before  whicli  the  examination  of  a 
candidate  is  held  shall  fix  a  day  for  his  ordination,  which 
ordination  shall  be  conducted  by  the  Classis  with  proper 
solemnity ;  a  sermon  suited  to  the  occasion  shall  be 
preached,  and  the  promises,  directions,  explanations  of 
duty,  with  a  laying  on  of  hands,  shall  be  agreeable  to  the 
form  for  that  end  expressly  made  and  adopted  ;  after 
which  a  certificate  of  his  ordination,  signed  by  the  Presi- 
dent, shall  be  given. 

Sec.  12.  The  oflBce  of  a  Minister  is  to  persevere  in  prayer 
and  the  ministry  of  the  Word  ;  to  dispense  the  Sacra- 
ments ;  to  watch  over  his  brethren,  the  Elders  and  Dea- 
cons, as  well  as  over  the  whole  congregation  ;  and  lastly, 
in  conjunction  with  the  Elders,  to  exercise  Christian  dis- 
cipline, and  to  be  careful  that  all  things  be  done  decently 
and  in  good  order.  Every  Minister  must  consider  him- 
self as  wholly  devoted  to  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  in  the  ser- 
vices of  the  Church,  and  shall  faithfully  fulfill  the  obliga- 
tions of  his  call,  in  preaching,  catechizing,  and  visiting 
his  flock  ;  and  be  instant  in  season  and  out  of  season  ;  and, 
by  word  and  example,  always  promote  the  spiritual  'wel- 
fare of  liis  people. 

Sec.  13.  No  person  shall  be  ordained  to  the  ministry  of 
the  Word,  without  settling  in  some  congregation,  except 


16  CONSTITUTION. 

for  missionary  work  under  the  direction  of  the  Classis,  or  in 
foreign  lands  ;  and  no  person,  when  ordained,  shall  be  at 
liberty  to  relinquish  his  calling  as  a  Minister  for  any  secu- 
lar avocation,  except  for  important  reasons,  concerning 
which  the  Classis  shall  inquire  and  determine. 

Skc.  14.  Ministers  who,  by  reason  of  old  age,  or  hab- 
itual sickness  and  infirmities,  either  of  mind  or  body,  are 
not  capable  of  fulfilling  the  duties  of  the  ministry,  may, 
upon  application,  and  sufiBcient  proof  of  such  incapacity 
being  made  to  the  Classis,  be  declared  emeriti,  and  be 
excused  from  all  further  services  in  the  Church  during 
such  infirmity ;  reserving,  however,  to  them  the  title, 
rank,  and  character  which,  before  such  declaration,  they 
enjoyed.  In  all  such  cases,  before  the  Classis  declares  any 
Minister  emeritus,  they  may  require  a  stipulation  in  writ- 
ing from  the  Consistory  to  which  he  belongs,  under  their 
common  seal,  and  signed  by  their  President,  to  pay  such 
Minister  annually,  in  half  yearly  payments,  during  his 
exemption  from  pastoral  service,  for  his  support,  such 
sum  as  the  Classis  shall  deem  reasonable,  having  due 
regard  to  the  stated  salary  of  such  Minister,  and  the 
situation  and  ability  of  the  congregation.  This  stipula- 
tion shall  at  any  time  be  subject  to  modification  or  dis- 
continuance by  the  Classis. 

Sbc.  15.  For  the  regular  application  for  dismission  of  a 
Minister  from  his  charge,  it  is  required  that  a  neighbor- 
ing Minister  of  the  same  Classis  to  which  the  congrega- 
tion belongs,  be  invited  to  be  present,  and  superintend 
the  application  for  said  dismission  of  the  Minister  from 
his  congregation,  countersign  it,  and  deliver  it,  with  a 
report  upon  the  subject,  to  the  Classis,  which  report  and 
document  shall  serve  as  a  basis  upon  which  the  final  dis- 
mission and  certificate  of  the  Classis  shall  be  founded. 
But  it  is  provided,  that  whenever  either  Minister  or  Con- 


MINISTERS.  17 

sietory  shall  not  join  in  the  application,  that  fact  shall  be 
plainly  stated  in  the  report  above  described,  in  which 
case  no  dismission  shall  be  made  by  the  Classis  except 
after  a  hearing-  of  both  Minister  and  Consistory  in  open 
Classis,  of  which  hearing  ten  days'  notice  shall  have  first 
been  given  to  both  parties  by  the  President  of  the  Classis, 
whose  warrant  for  such  notice,  and  call  of  Classis,  shall 
be  the  report  as  above  described.  JS^or  shall  any  dismis- 
sion be  effected  under  circumstances  now  specified,  ex- 
cept by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  of  the  Classis 
present. 

Sec.  16.  All  Ministers  of  the  Gospel  are  equal  in  rank 
and  authority  ;  all  are  Bishops  or  overseers  in  the  Church; 
nnd  all  are  equal  Stewards  of  the  mysteries  of  God.  No 
superiority  shall,  therefore,  be  ever  claimed  or  acknow- 
ledged by  one  Minister  over  another ;  nor  shall  there  be 
any  lords  over  God's  heritage  in  the  Reformed  (Dutch) 
Churches. 

Sec.  17.  Consistories  of  vacant  congregations  shall  not 
invite  or  permit  Ministers  of  other  denominations,  whose 
characters  and  standing  are  not  known,  to  preach  within 
their  bounds,  unless  they  exhibit  satisfactory  evidence  in 
writing,  of  a  recent  date,  of  their  regular  authority  for 
that  purpose,  and  their  good  standing  ;  and,  in  all  doubt- 
ful cases,  such  Consistories  shall  consult  a  Standing  Com- 
mittee of  Classis,  to  be  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

Sec.  18.  The  Classis  shall  receive  no  Licentiates  or 
Ministers  imder  their  care  from  any  body  of  professing 
Christians  who  maintain  doctrines  different  from  those  of 
the  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church,  without  an  open  and  ex- 
plicit declaration,  on  their  part,  that  they  have  renounced 
such  doctrines,  as  contrary  to  the  Holy  Scriptures,  and 
the  standards  of  our  Church. 

Sec.  19.  If  any  application  be  made  for  the  admission 


18  CONSTITUTION. 

of  a  Licentiate  or  Minister  from  other  churches,  it  shall 
be  the  duty  of  the  Classis  to  subject  him  to  such  examind- 
tion  as  shall  enable  them  to  proceed  with  freedom  in  his 
case. 

ARTICLE   in. 
Of  Teachers  of  Tlieology. 

Sec.  1.  As  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  that  Profes- 
sors of  Theology  should  be  sound  in  the  faith,  possess 
abilities  to  teach,  and  have  the  confidence  of  the  churches, 
they  shall  always,  for  the  greater  security,  be  chosen  and 
appointed  by  a  vote  of  three-fourths  of  the  members 
present  in  the  General  Synod.  To  prevent,  as  far  as  pos- 
sible, the  unhappy  consequences  of  partiality,  haste,  or 
undue  influence  in  obtaining  an  office  of  such  consequence 
to  the  Church,  a  nomination  of  one  or  more  candidates 
shall  be  previously  made,  upon  which  the  Synod  shall  fix 
a  day  when  they  will  proceed  to  an  election ;  provided 
that  no  appointment  of  a  Professor  of  Theology  shall  ever 
be  made  on  the  same  day  on  which  he  is  nominated ;  and 
provided  also  that  no  one  nominated  shall  be  set  aside, 
except  by  the  regular  process  of  balloting  for  an  election. 
An  instrument,  certifying  the  appointment,  and  specifying 
the  general  duties  of  the  office,  shall  be  signed  in  the 
presence  of  the  General  Synod,  by  the  President  thereof, 
and  by  him  be  given,  in  the  name  of  the  Church,  to  the 
person  elected. 

Sec.  2.  No  person  shall  be  appointed  to  the  office  of  a 
Professor  who  is  not  a  Minister  in  good  standing ;  and 
every  Professor  of  Theology  shall  continue  in  his  office 
during  life,  unless  in  case  of  such  misbehavior  as  shall  be 
deemed  a  violation  of  the  obligations  entered  into  at  his 
appointment ;  or  unless  he  voluntarily  deserts  or  resigns 
his  profession,  or  from  age  or  infirmities  becomes  incapable 


PROFES80E8.  19 

of  fulfilling  the  duties  thereof;  of  all  which  the  General 
Synod  alone  shall  judge;  and  to  that  Synod  a  Professor 
of  Theology  shall  always  be  amenable  for  his  doctrine, 
mode  of  teaching,  and  moral  conduct. 

Sec.  3.  No  Professor  of  Theology  shall  be  permitted  to 
officiate  until  he  shall  have  subscribed  the  following 
formula,  viz :  "  We,  the  underwritten,  in  becoming  Pro- 
fessors of  Sacred  Theology  in  the  Reformed  (Duich)  Church, 
by  this  our  subscription,  uprightly,  and  in  good  conscience 
before  God,  declare  that  we  heartily  believe,  and  are  per- 
suaded, that  all  the  articles,  and  points  of  doctrine,  con- 
tained in  the  Confession  and  Catechism  of  the  Reformed 
(Dutch)  Church,  together  with  the  explanation  of  some 
points  of  the  said  doctrine,  made  in  the  National  Synod, 
held  at  Dordrecht,  in  the  year  1619,  do  fully  agree  with 
the  Word  of  God.  We  promise,  therefore,  that  we  will 
diligently  teach,  and  faithfully  defend,  the  aforesaid  doc- 
trine; and  that  we  will  not  inculcate  or  write,  either 
publicly  or  privately,  directly  or  indirectly,  anything 
againat  the  same.  As,  also,  that  we  reject  not  only  all 
the  errors  which  militate  against  this  doctrine,  and  par- 
ticularly those  which  are  condemned  in  the  above-men- 
tioned Synod,  but  that  we  are  disposed  to  refute  the  same, 
openly  lo  oppose  them,  and  to  exert  ourselves  in  keeping 
the  Church  pure  from  such  errors.  Should  it  nevertheless 
hereafter  happen  that  any  objections  against  the  doctrine 
might  arise  in  our  minds,  or  we  entertain  different  senti- 
ments, we  promise  that  we  will  not,  either  publicly  or 
privately,  propose,  teach,  or  defend,  the  same,  by  preach- 
ing or  writing,  until  we  have  fir^t  fully  revealed  such 
sentiments  to  the  General  Synod,  to  whom  we  are  respon- 
sible ;  that  our  opinions  may,  in  the  said  General  Synod, 
receive  a  thorough  examination,  being  ready  always  cheer- 
fully to  submit  to  the  judgment  of  the  General  Synod, 

/ 


20  CONSTITUTION. 

under  th^  penalty,  in  case  of  refusal,  to  be  censured  by  the 
said  Synod.  And  whenever  the  General  Synod,  upon 
suiBcient  grounds  of  suspicion,  and  to  preserve  the  uni- 
formity and  purity  of  doctrines,  may  deem  it  proper  to 
demand  from  ua  a  more  particular  explanation  of  our 
sentiments  respecting  any  article  of  the  aforesaid  Confes- 
sion, Catechism,  or  Explanation  of  the  National  Synod,  we 
promise  hereby  to  be  always  willing  and  ready  to  comply 
with  such  demand,  under  the  penalty  before  mentioned  ; 
reserving  to  ourselves  the  right  of  rehearing,  or  a  new 
trial,  if  we  shall  conceive  ourselves  aggrieved  in  the  sen- 
tence of  the  General  Synod;  during  the  dependence  of 
such  new  trial,  we  promise  to  acquiesce  in  the  judgment 
already  passed,  as  well  as  finally  to  submit,  without  dis- 
turbing the  peace  of  the  churches,  to  the  ultimate  decision 
of  the  said  General  Synod." 

Sec.  4.  No  Professor,  while  in  office,  shall  have  the 
pastoral  charge  of  any  congregation,  or  sit  as  a  member 
of  any  ecclesiastical  assembly  or  judicatory  ;  but  as  a  Min- 
ister of  the  Gospel,  may  preach,  and  administer,  or  assist 
in  administering  the  Sacraments  in  any  congregation, 
with  the  consent  of  the  Minister  or  Consistory. 

Sec.  5.  A  Professor  shall  not  be  at  liberty  to  resign  his 
office  without  the  consent  of  the  General  Synod,  except 
upon  giving  three  months'  previous  notice  to  the  President 
of  that  body,  of  his  intention  so  to  do. 

Sec.  6.  A  Professor  of  Theology,  being  amenable  only 
to  the  General  Synod,  shall,  when  entering  on  the  dis 
charge  of  his  duties,  take  a  dismissal  from  the  judicatory 
with  which  ho  is  connected ;  and  on  retiring  from  office 
shall  be  dismissed  to  such  ecclesiastical  judicatory  as  he 
may  elect. 


ELDERS   AND   DEACONS.  21 

ARTICLE   IV. 

Of  the  Offices  of  Elders  and  Deacons. 

Sec.  1  The  office  of  Elders  is,  in  conjunction  with  the 
Ministers  of  the  Word,  to  exercise  Christian  discipline, 
and  to  be  careful  that  all  things  be  done  decently  and  in 
order ;  to  take  heed  that  the  Ministers,  together  with 
their  fellow  Elders  and  Deacons,  faithfully  discharge  their 
respective  duties ;  and  also,  especially  before  or  after  the 
Lord's  Supper,  as  time  and  circumstances  permit,  and  as 
shall  be  most  for  the  edification  of  the  congregation,  to 
assist  in  performing  visitations,  in  order  particularly  to 
instruct  and  comfort  the  members  in  full  communion,  as 
well  as  to  exhort  others  to  the  regular  profession  of  the 
Christian  religion. 

Sec.  2.  The  office  peculiar  to  the  Deacons  is  diligently 
to  collect  the  alms  and  other  moneys  appropriated  for  the 
use  of  the  poor,  and,  with  the  advice  of  the  Consistory, 
cheerfully  and  faithfully  to  distribute  the  same  to 
strangers,  as  well  as  to  those  of  their  own  household, 
according  to  the  measure  of  their  respective  necessities; 
to  visit  and  comfort  the  distressed,  and  to  be  careful  that 
the  alms  be  not  misused  ;  of  the  distribution  of  which 
they  shall  render  an  account  in  Consistory,  at  such  time 
as  the  said  Consistory  shall  determine,  and  in  the  presence 
of  so  many  of  the  congregation  as  may  choose  to  attend. 
Should  more  be  collected  than  the  necessities  of  the  poor 
may  require,  such  surplus  may,  with  the  consent  of  the 
Consistory,  be  devoted  to  other  purposes,  connected  with 
the  wants  of  the  Church. 

Sec.  3.  In  all  cases  the  Elders  and  Deacons  shall  be 
chosen  from  the  male  members  of  the  Church,  in  full 
communion. 

Sec.  4.  In  forming  new  churches,  the  Elders  and  Dea- 


22  CONSTITUTION. 

cons  shall  be  chosen  by  the  male  communicants,  and  a 
neighboring  Minister  of  the  Reformed  Church  shall  pre? 
side,  and  notice  of  the  time  and  place  of  such  election  shall 
be  published,  at  least  two  Sabbaths,  in  the. church,  or 
usual  place  of  worship,  previous  to  the  election. 

Sec.  5.  In  churches  already  organized,  the  manner  of 
choosing  Elders  and  Deacons  shall  be  as  follows  : — A  double 
number  may  be  nominated  by  the  Consistory,  out  of  which 
the  members  of  the  Church  in  full  communion  may  choose 
those  who  shall  serve  ; — or,  all  the  said  members  may 
unite  in  nominating  and  choosing  the  whole  number 
without  a  previous  nomination  by  the  Consistory; — or,  the 
Consistory  for  the  time  being,  as  representing  all  the 
members,  may  choose  the  whole.  The  result  of  such 
choice  shall  be  published  in  the  church,  or  usual  place  of 
worship  of  the  congregation,  three  successive  Sabbaths 
previous  to  their  ordination,  to  the  end  that  all  lawful 
objections  to  such  ordination  may  be  offered  to,  and  duly 
adjudicated  by,  the  Consistory.  But  where  either  of  these 
modes  has  for  many  years  been  followed  in  any  church, 
there  shall  be  no  variation  or  change  but  by  previous  ap- 
plication of  the  Consistory  to  the  Classis,  and  express 
leave  first  obtained  for  altering  such  custom. 

Sec.  G.  The  Elders  and  Deacons  shall  be  chosen  to 
serve  two  years,  except  in  cases  of  vacancy  occasioned  by 
death,  removal  out  of  the  congregation,  resignation,  or 
dismission  from  office  by  a  judicial  sentence  of  the  Con- 
sistory ;  in  either  of  which  cases,  the  person  or  persons 
chosen  shall  serve  for  the  residue  of  the  term  only. 

Sec.  7.  In  order  to  avoid  the  inconvenience  of  an  entire 
change  at  one  time,  the  first  Elders  and  Deacons  of  new 
congregations  shall,  at  the  first  meeting  of  the  Consistory 
after  their  ordination,  determine,  by  lot,  who  of  their  num- 
ber shall  serve  one  year,  and  who  shall  serve  two  years ; 


ASSEMBLIES.  35d 

80  that  one  laalf  of  the  whole  mimber  of  both  Elders  and 
Deacons  may  thereafter  be  elected  annually.  The  same 
course  shall  be  pursued  in  ealarpfing  Consistories,  so  far 
as  relates  to  the  additional  members.  Elders  And  Deacons 
may  be  re-elected,  but  in  such  case  need  not  be  xe- 
orduined. 

ARTICLE  V. 

Of  Ecclesiastical  Assemblies  in  Oeneral. 
Sec.  1.    The  Ecclesiastical  Assemblies  which  sltall  be 
naaintained  are : 

1.  Consistorial. 
3.  Classical. 
3.  Synodical. 

Sec.  2.  In  these  assemblies,  ecclesiastical  matters  only 
shall  be  transacted,  and  that  in  an  ecclesiastical  manner. 
A  greater  assembly  shall  take  cognizance  of  those  things 
alone  which  could  not  be  determined  in  a  less,  or  that  ap- 
pertain to  the  churches  or  congi-egations  in  general,  which 
compo'se  such  an  assembly. 

Sec.  3.  The  transactions  of  all  Ecclesiastical  Assemblies 
shall  begin  and  conclude  with  prayer. 

Sec.  4.  Those  who  are  delegated  to  attend  the  assem- 
blies shall  be  admitted  on  credentials,  signed  by  those  who 
send  them  ;  and  such  only  shall  be  entitled  to  a  vote. 

Sec.  5.  In  all  assemblies  there  shall  be  a  President  and 
Clerk.  The  duty  of  the  President  shall  be  to  state  and 
explain  the  business  which  is  to  be  transacted,  to  preserve 
order,  and,  in  general,  to  maintain  that  decorum  and  dig- 
nity becoming  a  judicatory  of  the  Church  of  Christ.  The 
duly  of  the  Clerk  shall  be  to  keep  a  faithful  record  of  all 
the  proceedings. 

Sec.  6.  A  Classis  has  the  same  jurisdicti*  n  over  a  Con- 


24  CONSTITUTION. 

sistory,  which  a  Particular  Synod  has  over  a  Classis,  and 
the  General  Synod  over  a  Particular. 

Sec.  7.  No  member  of  an  Ecclesiastical  Assembly  shall 
be  allowed  to  protest  against  any  of  its  acts  ;  any  member 
who  dissents  from  any  such  acts  shall  have  a  right  to  re- 
quire the  names  of  all  the  members  present  who  vote  for 
or  against  the  same,  to  be  entered  in  the  minutes,  and  pub- 
lished therewith  for  the  information  of  all  concerned. 

ARTICLE    VI. 
Of  Consistories. 

Sec.  1.  The  Elders  and  Deacons,  together  with  the  Min- 
ister or  Ministers,  if  any,  shall  form  a  Consistory,  and  the 
Minister  shall  preside  at  all  consistorial  meetings  ;  but,  in 
the  absence  of  a  Minister,  the  Consistory  may  appoint  one 
of  the  Elders  to  be  their  President  pro.  tern.,  and  it  shall 
be  competeni  for  the  sevenal  Consistories  to  prescribe  the 
mode  and  time  of  calling  their  meetings.  If  there  be  a 
plurality  of  ministers,  they  shall  preside  in  rotation. 

Sec.  2.  When  joined  together  in  one  Board,  the  Elders 
and  Deacons  have  an  equal  voice  in  whatever  relates  to 
the  temporalities  of  the  Church,  to  the  calling  or  dismis- 
sion of  a  Minister,  or  the  choice  of  thsir  own  successors; 
in  all  which  they  are  considered  as  the  general  and  joint 
representatives  of  the  people.  But  in  admitting  members 
to  full  communion,  and  in  dismissing  them  to  other 
churches ;  in  exercising  discipline  upon  those  who  have 
erred  from  the  faith,  or  offended  in  morals ;  and  in  choos- 
ing delegates  to  attend  the  Classis,  the  Elders,  with  the 
Ministers,  have  alone  a  voice. 

Sec.  3.  No  Consistory  shall  be  constituted  in  any  place 
without  the  previous  advice  and  concurrence  of  Classis. 

Sec.  4.  A  majority  of  the   Consistory,  regularly  con- 


CONSISTORIES.  25 

vened,  shall  be  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business  ; 
and,  in  like  manner,  a  majority  of  Ministers  and  Elders 
alone,  oi*  of  Deacons  alone,  so  convened,  shall  be  a  quorum 
respectively.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Consistory,  when 
an  election  shall  have  been  omitted  at  the  usual  time,  to 
appoint  another  time  for  that  purpose,  on  an  early  day, 
giving  the  like  notice  as  herein  above  prescribed  ;  and,  in 
like  manner,  to  provide  for  filling  vacancies. 

Sec.  5.  As  the  spiritual  government  of  the  congregation 
is  committed  to  the  Ministers  and  Elders,  it  is  their  duty 
at  all  times  to  be  vigilant,  to  preserve  discipline,  and  to 
promote  the  peace  and  spiritual  interest  of  the  congrega- 
tion. Particularly  before  the  celebration  of  the  Lord's 
Supper,  a  faithful  and  solemn  inquiry  is  to  be  made  by  the 
President,  whether,  to  the  knowledge  of  those  present, 
any  member  in  full  communion  has  departed  from  the 
faith,  or  in  walk  or  conversation  has  behaved  unworthy 
the  Chiistian  profession ;  that  such  as  are  guilty  may  be 
properly  rebuked,  admonished,  or  suspended  from  the  priv. 
ilege  of  approaching  the  Lord's  Table,  and  all  oflfences  may 
be  removed  out  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

Sec.  6.  None  can  be  rec'  ived  as  members  in  full  com- 
munion, unless  they  first  shall  have  made  a  confession  of 
their  faith  before  the  Minister  (if  any)  and  the  Elders,  or 
have  produced  a  certificate  of  their  being  members  in  full 
communion  of  some  Evangelical  Church  ;  all  such  shall 
be  published  to  the  congregation,  and  be  registered  as  reg- 
ular members  in  the  Church. 

Sec.  7.  In  every  congregation,  a  distinct  and  fair  reg's- 
ter  shall  be  preserved  by  the  Minister  of  every  baptism 
and  marriage  there  celebrated,  and  of  all  who  are  received 
as  members  in  full  communion.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of 
the  several  Consistories  to  make  a  statistical  report  to  the 
Classis  at  their  meeting  immediately  preceding  the  annual 


26  CJONSTITUTION. 

meetings  of  the  Particular  and  the  General  Synod,  accord- 
ing to  such  formula  as  the  General  Synod  shall  prescribe, 
and  accompany  the  fame  with,  such  remarks  on  the  spir- 
itual state  of  the  congregation  as  they  may  deem  proper. 

Sec.  8.  Every  Consistory  shall  keep  regular  minutes  of 
its  meetings  and  proceedings,  and  shall  lay  such  minutes, 
so  far  as  the  same  relate  to  ecclesiastical  proceedings,  at 
least  once  a  year,  before  the  Classis  with  which  it  is  con- 
nected, for  their  information. 

Sec.  9.  It  shall  be  incumbent  upon  members  of  the 
Church,  in  removing  from  the  bounds  of  one  church  to 
another,  to  obtain  from  the  Consistory  a  certificate  of  mem- 
bership and  dismission. 

Sec.  10.  Consistories  possess  the  riglit  of  calling  Minis- 
ters for  their  own  congregations,  except  where  otherwise 
provided  for  by  charter.  Bui,  in  exercising  this  right,  they 
are  bound  to  use  their  utmost  endeavors,  either  by  consult- 
ing with  the  Great  Consistory  or  with  the  congregation  at 
large,  to  know  what  person  would  be  most  acceptable  to 
the  people. 

Sec.  11.  A  Minister  of  the  Classis  must  be  invited  to  su- 
perintend the  proceedings,  whenever  a  Consistory  is  desir- 
ous of  making  a  call.  The  instrument  is  to  be  si/rned  by 
the  members  of  the  Consistory,  or  by  the  President  in  the 
name  of  the  Consistory;  and  if  the  Church  be  incorpo- 
rated, it  is  proper  to  afl|x  the  seal  of  the  corporation. 
When  the  call  is  completed,  it  must  be  laid  by  the  Consis- 
tory before  the  Classis,  and  be  approved  by  the  same,  before 
it  can  be  presented  to  the  person  called  ;  and  if  the  call 
be  accepted,  the  name  of  such  Minist*  r  shall  be  published 
in  the  church  three  Sabbaths  successively,  that  opportu- 
nity may  be  given  for  stating  lawful  objections,  if  any 
there  be.  When  any  circumstances  shall,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  Consistory,  make  the  presiding  of  their  own 


C50NSIST0EIES.  27 

Minister  at  its  sessions  undesirable,  they  may,  on  the  re- 
quest of  their  pastor,  invite  a  Minister  of  their  own  Clae- 
sis  to  preside  on  the  occasion. 

Sec.  12.  For  the  purpose  of  uniformity,  the  form  of  a 
call  shall  be  as  follows  : 

"  To  N.  N. 

"  Grace,  Mercy  and  Peace,  from  God  our  Father,  and 

Jesus  Christ  our  Lord. 

"  Whereas,  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ  at ,  is  at 

present  destitute  of  the  stated  preaching  of  the  Word,  and 
the  regular  administration  of  the  ordinances,  and  is  desir- 
ous of  obtaining  the  means  of  grace,  which  God  hath  ap- 
pointed for  the  salvation  of  sinners,  through  Jesus  Christ 
his  Son :  And  whereas,  the  said  Church  is  well  satisfied 
of  the  piety,  gifts,  and  ministerifil  qualifications  of  you, 
N.  N.,  and  hath  good  hope  that  your  labors  in  the  Gosp>el 
will  be  attended  with  a  blessing :  Therefore,  we  {the  style 
and  title  of  the  said  Church)  have  resolved  to  call,  and  we 
hereby  solemnly,  and  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord,  do  call  you, 
the  said  X.  N.,  to  be  our  pastor  and  teacher,  to  preach  the 
Word  in  truth  and  faithfulness,  to  administer  the  holy 
Sacraments  agreeably  to  the  institution  of  Christ,  to  main- 
tain Christian  discipline,  to  edify  the  congregation,  and  es- 
pecially the  youth,  by  catechetical  instructions  ;  and,  as  a 
faithful  servant  of  Jesus  Christ,  to  fulfill  the  whole  work 
of  the  Gospel  ministry,  agreeably  to  the  Word  of  God,  and 
the  excellent  Rules  and  Constitution  of  our  Reformed 
(Dutch)  Church,  and  to  which  you,  upon  accepting  the 
call,  must  with  us  remain  subordinate. 

"  In  fulfilling  the  ordinary  duties  of  your  ministry,  it  is 
expressly  stipulated,  that,  besides  preaching  upon  such 
texts  of  Scripture  as  you  may  judge  proper  to  select  for 
our  instruction,  you  also  explain  a  portion  of  the  Heidel- 


28  CONSTITUTION. 

berg  Catechism  on  tlie  Lord's  Day?.,  agreeably  to  the  es- 
tablished order  of  the  Reformed  (Dutch)  Church  ;  and  that 
you  farther  conform  in  rendering  all  that  public  service 
which  is  usual,  and  has  been  in  constant  practice  in  our 
congregation.  The  particular  service  which  will  be  re- 
quired of  you  is  {here  insert  a  detail  of  such  particulars,  if 
any  there  he,  which  the  situation  of  the  congregation  map 
render  necessary  ;  especially  in  case  of  combinations,  uhen 
the  service  required  in  the  respective  congregaiians  must  be 
ascertained;  or  when  the  D-utch  and  English  languages 
are  hotli  requisite,  the  proportion  of  each  may  he  mentioned 
or  left  discretionary,  as  may  he  judged  proper). 

"  To  encourage  you  in  the  di^charge  of  the  duties  of 
your  important  office,  we  promise  you,  in  the  name  of  this 
Church,  all  proper  attention,  love,  and  obedience  in  the 
Lord  ;  and  to  free  you  from  worldly  cares  and  avocations, 
•while  you  are  dispensing  spiritual  blessings  to  us,  we  {the 
Elders  and  Deacons,  etc.,  the  style  and  title  of  the  Church) 
do  promise  and  oblige  ourselves  to  pay  to  you  the  sum  of 

,  in payments,  yearly,  and  every  year  as  long  as 

you  continue  the  Minister  of  this  Church,  together  with 
{su^h  particulars  as  may  refer  to  a  parsonage  or  other 
emoluments).  For  the  performance  of  all  which,  we  here- 
by bind  ourselves,  and  our  successors,  firmly,  by  these 
presents.  The  Lord  incline  your  heart  to  a  cheerful  ac- 
ceptance of  this  call,  and  send  you  to  us  in  the  fullness  of 
the  blessing  of  the  Gospel  of  peace. 

"  Done  in  Consistory,  and  subscribed  with  our  names, 

this day  of ,  in  the  year  of ." 

Attested  hy  N.  N.,  Moderator  of  the  cull. 

Sec.  13.  Since  it  is  deemed  of  the  highest  importance 
that  there  should  be  regular  instruction  on  the  great  arti- 
cles of  the  Christian  faith,  in  order  to  preserve  the  truth, 


CONSISTORIES.  )ffd 

and  to  promote  the  prosperity  of  the  Church,  every  Minis- 
ter shall,  in  the  ordinary  morning  or  afternoon  service  on 
the  Lord's  Day,  explain  the  system  of  the  Christian  doc- 
trine comprehended  in  the  Heidelberg  Catechism  adopted 
by  the  Reformed  Churches,  so  that,  if  practicable,  the  ex- 
planation may  be  annually  completed,  but  shall  never  be 
extended  beyond  the  term  of  four  years.  The  several 
Classes  shall,  at  their  stated  meetings,  preceding  the 
annual  meeting  of  General  Synod,  make  strict  inquiry 
whether  the  preceding  part  of  this  section  has  been  fully 
complied  with  by  every  Minister,  and  if  any  Minister  ghall 
be  found  deficient,  without  sufficient  reason,  the  Classis 
shall  inflict  such  censure  as  they  in  their  wisdom  may 
judge  the  omission  to  merit ;  and  the  several  Classes  shall 
make  a  full  and  faithful  report  of  the  result  of  their  in- 
quiries and  doings  on  this  behalf  to  the  Particular  Synod. 

Sec.  14.  When  any  Minister  shall  be  duly  convicted  of 
any  offence  which  affects  the  purity  of  his  clerical  charac- 
ter, he  shall,  in  consequence  of  such  conviction,  be  sus- 
pended from  his  office  ;  and  if  the  conviction  and  suspen- 
sion shall  be  sustained  on  a  final  appeal,  his  pastoral  con- 
nection with  the  congregation  in  which  he  was  settled 
shall  be,  ipso  facto,  dissolved. 

Sec.  15.  Consistories  which  have  hitherto  combined 
Willi  one  or  more  neighboring  Consistories,  in  making 
calls,  and  having  a  Minister  to  serve  in  common,  may  not 
at  pleasure  break  such  combination  ;  but  whenever  their 
situation  and  circumstances  render  them  capable  of  sev- 
erally calling  a  Minister,  a  representation  thereof  must  be 
made  to  the  Classis,  and  leave  be  first  requested  and  ob- 
tained, before  their  former  connections  can  be  dissolved. 

Sec.  16.  As  in  calling  a  Minister,  Consistories  are  bound 
to  consult  with  the  Great  Consistory,  or  with  the  congre- 
gation at  large,  so  when  other  matters  of  peculiar  import- 


30  CONSTITUTION. 

ance  occur,  relating  to  tlie  peace  and  welfare  of  the  whole 
congregation,  they  are  strongly  recommended  to  seek 
such  advice.  All  who  have  ever  served  as  Elders  or  Dea- 
cons, constitute,  when  assembled,  what  is  called  the  Great 
Consistory  ;  but  being  out  of  office,  and  not  actually  mem- 
bers of  the  Board  of  Corporation,  they  have  only  an  ad- 
visory voice. 

ARTICLE  VII. 
Of  the  Classis. 

Sec.  1.  A  Classis  consists  of  all  the  Ministers,  and  an 
Elder  delegated  by  each  Consistory  within  the  bounds 
prescribed  by  Particular  Synod.  Collegiate  Churches 
shall  be  entitled  to  an  Elder  for  each  ordinary  worshiping 
assembly.  To  constitute  a  Classis,  at  least  three  Ministers 
and  three  Elders  are  required. 

Sec.  2.  Classis  shall  have  the  power  of  approving  or 
disapproving  calls ;  constituting  and  dissolving  the  pas- 
toral relation ;  ordaining,  installing,  suspending,  depos- 
ing, and  dismissing  ministers.  They  shall  have  the 
power  of  forming  and  disbanding  congregations,  of  ap- 
proving and  dissolving  combinations  of  two  or  more  con- 
gregations ;  and  of  exercising  a  gener^^l  superintendence 
over  the  spiritual  interests  and  concerns  of  the  .=everal 
churches,  and  an  appellate  supervising  power  over  the 
acts,  proceedings,  and  decisions  of  the  Consistories  relat- 
ing to  Christian  discipline. 

Sec.  3.  The  peculiar  prerogative  of  Classes,  that  of  ex- 
amining students  of  Theology  for  their  becoming  candi- 
dates for  the  ministi-y,  and  of  candidates  for  their  becom- 
ing Ministers,  is  very  important,  and  must  always  be 
attended  to  with  great  prudence,  zeal,  and  fidelity.  Every 
student  of  Theology,  when  he  shall  have  become  prepared 
for  examination  for  licensure,  shall  present  himself  for 


CLASSES.  31 

Bucli  examination  to  the  Classis  within  whose  bounds  he 
resided  when  he  entered  upon  his  preparatory  studies, 
and  a  candidate  who  has  leceived  a  call,  must  be  exam- 
ined by  the  Classis  under  whose  jurisdiction  the  Church 
that  has  made  the  call  is  placed. 

Sec.  4.  Every  Classis  shall  keep  a  book,  in  which  the 
forms  of  subscriptions  for  candidates  and  Ministers  of  the 
Gospel  are  fairly  written,  which  those  who  are  examined 
and  approved  shall  respectively  subscribe  in  the  presence 
of  the  Classis.  It  shall  also  be  the  duty  of  every  Classis, 
annually,  to  report  to  the  Synod  all  persons  who  have 
been  examined  and  licensed,  as  well  as  those  who  have 
been  ordained  ;  and  also,  all  removals  of  Ministers  from 
one  place  to  another,  or  by  death,  which  may  have  hap- 
pened within  the  jurisdiction  of  such  Classis,  since  the 
last  session  of  Synod. 

Sec.  5.  Whenever  the  examination  of  a  candidate  for  the 
ministry,  the  approbation  of  a  call,  or  any  other  special 
business,  shall  render  an  extraordinary  meeting  of  the 
Classis  necessary,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  President  of 
the  Classis,  upon  application  being  made  to  him  for  that 
purpose,  to  call,  by  circular  letters,  the  members  together. 
And,  whenever  two  Ministers  and  two  Elders  belonging 
to  the  Classis  shall,  upon  any  occasion,  request  in  writing, 
under  their  hands,  an  extraordinary  meeting,  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  Classis  may  not  refuse  calling  the  same  ;  pro- 
vided that  the  expenses  attending  all  extraordinary  meet- 
ings of  the  Classis  shall  be  paid  by  the  person  or  congre- 
gation at  whose  request,  or  for  whose  benefit,  such  session 
is  held. 

Sec.  6.  The  meetings  ofthe  Classes  shall  be  semi-annual, 
at  such  times  as  they  may  respectively  determine  ;  and  at 
every  ordinary  session  there  shall  be  a  sermon,  or  other 
devotional  services,  or  both. 


32  CONSTITtJTION. 

Sec.  7.  The  Classes  shall,  at  their  meeting  next  preced- 
ing that  of  the  Particular  Synod,  appoint  delegates  to 
attend  the  said  Synod,  and  nominate  delegates  to  the 
General  Synod  ;  and,  at  the  same  meeting,  shall  put  to 
the  Ministers  and  Elders,  respectively,  the  following  in- 
quiries, and  enter  in  detail  the  several  answers  given  by 
each  Minister  and  Elder,  on  the  minutes,  for  the  informa- 
tion of  the  higher  judicatories  : 

1st.  Are  the  doctrines  of  the  Gospel  preached  in  your 
congregation  in  their  purity,  agreeably  to  the  Word  of 
God,  the  Confession  of  Faith,  and  the  Catechisms  of  our 
Church  ? 

2d.  Is  the  Heidelberg  Catechism  regularly  explained 
agreeably  to  the  Constitution  of  the  Reformed  (Dutch) 
Church  ? 

3d.  Are  the  catechising  of  the  children  and  the  instruc- 
tion of  the  youth  faithfully  attended  to  ? 

4th.  Is  family  visitation  faithfully  performed  ? 

5th.  Is  the  5th  Sec,  6th  Art.,  in  the  Constitution  of  our 
Church,  relating  to  the  conduct  of  church  members,  care- 
fully obeyed,  previous  to  each  communion  ? 

6th.  Is  the  temporal  contract  between  Ministers  and 
people  fulfilled  in  your  congregation  ? 

7th.  Is  a  contribution  made  annually  by  your  congrega- 
tion to  each  of  the  Benevolent  Boards  and  Funds  of  the 
Church  ? 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

Of  the  Particular  Synod. 
Sec.  1.  Every  Particular  Synod  shall  comprehend  a 
certain  number  of  Classes  to  be  designated  by  the  General 
Synod,  and  shall  consist  of  four  Ministers  and  four  Elders 
from  every  Classis  within  its  bounds;  and  nine  Ministers 
and  nine  Elders,  when  regularly  convened,  shall  constitute 


PARTICULAR   SYNOD.  33 

a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business  ;  excepting  those 
Synods  which  consist  of  not  more  than  five  Classes,  in 
which  case  six  Ministers  and  six  Elders  may  form  a 
quorum. 

Sec.  2.  To  the  Particular  Synod  belongs  the  power  to 
form  new  Classes,  to  transfer  a  congregation  from  one 
Classis  to  another,  to  exercise  a  general  superintendence 
over  the  spiritual  interests  and  concerns  of  the  several 
Classes  within  its  bounds,  and  an  appellate  supervising 
power  over  their  acts,  proceedings,  and  decisions  relating 
to  Christian  discipline. 

Sec.  3.  Every  Synod  shall  be  at  liberty  to  solicit  and 
hold  correspondence  with  its  neighboring  Synod  or 
Synods,  in  such  manner  as  shall  be  judged  most  couducive 
to  general  edification. 

Sec.  4.  A  copy  of  the  minutes  of  every  session  of  the 
several  Classes  held  since  the  last  session  of  Synod,  shall, 
at  the  opening  of  the  Synod,  be  produced  and  laid  on  the 
table  for  the  inspection  of  the  members.  The  Particular 
Synod,  from  the  several  reports  of  the  Classes,  on  the 
state  of  religion,  shall  prepare  a  Synodical  Report,  to  be 
presented  to  the  General  Synod,  accompanied  with  the 
statistical  tables  of  said  Classes. 

Sec.  5.  The  Particular  Synod  shall  meet  annually,  at 
such  time  and  place  as  they  may  determine ;  and  special 
meetings  may  be  held  for  the  transaction  of  any  extraor- 
dinary business,  upon  the  written  request  of  four  Ministers 
and  four  Elders  to  the  President  of  the  Synod  ;  and,  in 
such  case,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  such  President  to  give 
notice  to  the  members  of  ISynod  of  such  meeting  three 
weeks  previous  thereto,  stating  the  particular  object  for 
which  the  Synod  is  to  be  convened. 


34:  •  CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

Of  the  General  Synod. 

Sec.  1.  The  General  Synod  shall  consist  of  three  Minis- 
ters and  three  Elders  from  each  of  the  Classes,  composed 
of  fifteen  or  less  than  fifteen  churches ;  and  an  additional 
representation  of  one  Minister  and  one  Elder  shall  be 
allowed  for  each  additional  five  churches.  These  persons 
shall  be  nominated  by  the  Classes  to  the  Particular  Synod 
to  which  they  belonj^,  who  shall  have  power  to  appoint 
them  delegates  to  the  General  Synod ;  but,  for  good  cause, 
it  may  appoint  other  persons  than  those  so  nominated  ;  or, 
in  case  no  nomination  is  made,  may  appoint  the  delegates 
for  the  Classis  or  Classes  who  shall  have  omitted  to 
nominate.  The  body  thus  constituted  shall  be  called 
"  The  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Amer- 
ica." 

Sec.  2.  The  removal  of  any  delegate,  during  the  period 
for  which  he  was  appointed,  from  the  Classis  which  he 
was  commissioned  to  represent,  shall  vacate  his  seat  in 
the  General  Synod.  4 

Sec.  3.  The  General  Synod  shall  meet  annually,  at  such 
time  and  place  as  they  may  determine  ;  and  twelv^e  Min- 
isters and  twelve  Elders,  when  regularly  convened,  shall 
be  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business. 

Sec.  4.  The  General  Synod  shall  have  original  cog- 
nizance of  all  matters  relating  to  the  Theological  Schools, 
the  appointment  of  Professors,  and  their  course  of  instruc- 
tion ;  the  appointment  of  Superintendents  of  said  schools, 
and  the  regulations  thereof;  and  shall  possess  the  power 
of  regulating  and  maintaining  a  friendly  correspondence 
with  the  highest  judicatories  or  assemblies  of  other  re- 
ligious denominations,  for  the  purpose  of  promoting 
union  and  concert  in  general  measures  which  may  be 


CUSTOMS    AND   USAGES.  '    35 

calculated  to  maintain  sound  doctrine,  prevent  conflicting 
regulations  relative  to  persons  under  church  censure,  by 
the  judicatories  of  either  denominations,  and  to  produce 
concert  and  harmony  in  their  respective  proceedings  to 
promote  the  cause  of  religion  and  piety. 

To  the  General  Synod  belongs  the  power  to  constitute 
Particular  Synods,  and  to  make  any  changes  in  the  same  ; 
to  exercise  a  general  superintendence  over  the  spiritual 
interests  and  concerns  of  the  whole  Church,  and  an  ap- 
pellate supervising  power  over  the  acts,  proceedings,  and 
decisions  of  the  lower  assemblies,  relating  to  Christian 
discipline. 

Sec.  5.  When,  in  the  circumstances  of  missionary  fields, 
it  shall  be  impracticable  for  a  Classis  to  comply  with  all 
the  requirements  of  the  Constitution,  the  General  Synod 
shall  have  full  power  to  grant  such  dispensation  as  the 
wants  of  the  case  may  demand. 

Sec.  6.  If  circumstances  should  require  a  meeting  of 
the  General  Synod  previous  to  the  next  ordinary  meeting, 
the  President  shall,  on  a  joint  application  of  six  Ministers 
and  six  Elders  requesting  the  same,  call  an  extraordinary 
meeting  at  the  place  where  the  next  ordinary  meeting  is 
appointed  to  be  held,  notice  of  which  meeting  shall  be 
given  to  members  of  Synod  at  least  three  weeks  previous 
to  the  time  of  such  meeting,  stating  the  particular  busi- 
ness for  which  it  is  called,  not,  however,  excluding  the 
transaction  of  such  other  business  as  the  Synod  may  deem 
proper. 

ARTICLE   X. 
Of  Customs  and  Usages. 

Sec.  1.  The  Sacrament  of  Baptism  shall,  if  possible,  be 
administered  in  the  church,  or  some  other  place  of  public 
worship,  at  the  time  of  public  worship  ;  and  the  form  for 


36  CONSTITUTION. 

Baptism  shall  in  every  case  be  retained.  But  it  is  recom- 
mended that  no  private  baptism  shall  be  administered 
•v%ithout  the  presence  of  at  least  one  Elder,  who  shall  ac- 
company the  Minister  for  that  purpose. 

Sec.  2.  Every  church  shall  observe  such  a  mode  in  the 
administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  as  shall  be  judged 
most  conducive  to  edification ;  provided  that  the  Form  for 
the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  shall  be  read,  and 
a  prayer  suited  to  the  occasion  shall  be  oflfered,  before  the 
members  participate  in  the  ordinance. 

Sec.  3.  The  Sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper  shall  be 
administered  at  least  twice  a  year,  and  it  is  recommended 
that  the  same  be  administered  once  every  two  or  three 
months. 

Sec.  4.  For  the  purpose  of  uniformity  in  the  order  of 
worship,  the  following  is  to  be  observed  by  all  the 
Churches : 

1st.  Livocation. 

2d.    Salutation. 

3d.    Eeading  the  Ten  Commandments,  or  some  other 
portions  of  Scripture,  or  both. 

4th.  Singing. 

5th.  Prayer. 

6th.  Singing. 

7th.  Sermon. 

8th.  Prayer. 

9th.  Collection  of  Alms. 
10th.  Singing. 

11th.  Benediction.  The  order  of  the  afternoon  and 
evening  services  shall  be  the  same  as  the  morning,  except- 
ing the  reading  of  the  Ten  Commandments.  The  last  ser- 
vice on  the  Lord's  Day  shall  conclude  with  the  Christian 
Doxology. 

Sec.  5.  No  Psalms  or  Hymns  may  be  publicly  sung  in 


DISCIPLINE.— OFFENCES.  37 

the  Reformed  (Dutch)  Churches,  but  such  as  are  approved 
and  recommended  by  the  General  Synod. 

ARTICLE   XL 

Of  Discipline  in  General. 

Sec.  1.  Discipline  is  the  exercise  of  the  authority  which 
the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has  given  to  His  Church.  Its  ob- 
jects are  the  vindication  of  the  honor  of  Christ,  the  promo- 
tion of  the  purity  and  general  edification  of  the  Church, 
and  the  benefit  of  the  oflFender. 

Skc.  2.  Nothing  cihall  be  admitted  as  matter  of  accusa- 
tion, or  considered  an  offence,  which  cannot  be  shown  to 
be  such  from  Scripture,  or  the  laws  and  regulations  of  the 
Church. 

Sec.  3.  All  baptized  persons  are  members  of  the  Church, 
are  under  its  care,  and  subject  to  its  government  and 
discipline. 

ARTICLE  XII. 
Of  Offences. 

Sec.  1.  Private  offences  are  those  that  are  known  to  an 
individual  only,  or  at  most  to  a  very  few. 

Sec.  2.  Such  offences  are  not  immediately  to  be  pre- 
sented before  a  Church  Judicatory,  but  the  offender  shall 
be  dealt  with  according  to  the  mode  pointed  out  by  our 
Lord  in  Matt,  xviii.  The  same  course  shall  be  adopted  in 
cases  of  personal  or  private  injuries  ;  but  if,  on  due  for- 
bearance, these  tender  and  Christian  proceedings  are  un- 
availing, the  whole  matter  shall  be  represented  to  the  Ju- 
dicatory, to  which  the  offender  is  amenable. 

Sec.  3.  Informers  who  have  not  taken  these  previous 
steps  shall  be  considered  as  guilty  of  an  offence  against 
the  peace  and  order  of  the  Church,  and  be  censured  accord- 
ingly. 


38  CONSTITUTION. 

Sec.  4.  Public  offfences  are  those  that  reqiiire  the  cog- 
nizance of  a  Church  Judicatory  ;  being  so  notorious  and 
scandalous  that  no  private  measures  would  obviate  their 
injurious  effects. 

Sec.  5.  When  any  person  is  charged  with  an  offence,  not 
by  an  individual,  but  by  general  rumor,  the  previous  steps 
prescribed  by  our  Lord  in  case  of  private  offences  are  not 
necessary,  but  the  proper  judicatory  is  bound  to  take  im- 
mediate cognizance  of  the  matter. 

Sec.  6.  To  constitute  a  general  rumor,  or  fama  damosa, 
It  is  necessary — 

1st.  That  it  specify  some  particular  sin  or  sins. 

2d.  That  it  should  have  obtained  general  circulation. 

8d.  That  it  be  not  transient. 

4th.  That  it  shall  be  accompanied  with  strong  presump- 
tion of  its  truth. 

Sec.  7.  The  following  are  to  be  considered  as  the  princi- 
pal offences  that  deserve  the  punishment  of  suspension  or 
removal  from  office,  viz  :  Heresy,  Public  Schisms,  open  Blas- 
phemy, Simony,  faithless  Desertion  of  OflBce  or  intruding 
upon  that  of  another,  Slander,  Lying,  Perjury,  Adultery, 
Fornication,  Theft,  Forgery,  Acts  of  Violence,  Drunken- 
ness, scandalous  TraflBc  ;  in  short,  all  such  sins  and  gross 
offences  as  render  the  perpetrators  infamous  before  the 
world,  and  which,  in  a  private  member  of  the  Church, 
would  be  considered  as  deserving  excommunication. 

Sec.  8.  In  admitting  accusations  against  a  Minister  or 
Elder,  the  rule  prescribed  in  1  Tim.  v.  19,  shall  always  be 
observed,  and  accusers  must  come  forward  openly  to  sup- 
port the  charge. 

Sec.  9.  If  Miciisters  of  the  Word  have  committed  any 
public,  gross  sin,  which  would  render  their  appearance  in 
the  pulpit  under  such  circumstances  highly  offensive,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Consistory,  in  order  to  prevent 


PROCESS    AND   TRIAL.  39 

scandal,  to  close  the  pulpit  against  such  criminal,  and  re- 
fer him  to  be  tried  by  the  Classis  as  soon  as  possible.  The 
proceedings  of  the  Consistory  in  such  cases  are  at  their 
peril,  and  are  not  to  be  considered  as  a  trial,  but  only  a 
prudent  interference,  and  binding  over  the  person  accused 
to  the  judgment  of  his  peers. 

Sec.  10.  In  case  of  like  offences  by  an  Elder  or  Deacon, 
the  Consistory  shall  immediately  proceed  to  his  trial,  and, 
upon  conviction,  he  shall  be  forthwith  suspended  from  his 
office,  and  excluded  from  the  privileges  of  the  Church. 

Sec.  11.  If  any  member  of  the  Church  shall  be  duly 
convicted  of  an  infamous  crime  by  any  civil  court,  he 
shall,  ipso  facto,  be  suspended  from  any  ecclesiastical  office 
with  which  he  may  be  invested,  and  excluded  from  the 
privileges  of  the  church,  until  he  shall  have  established 
his  innocence,  or  manifested  his  repentance  to  the  ecclesi- 
astical judicatory  to  which  he  is  amenable. 


ARTICLE   XIII. 
Of  Process  and  Trial, 

Sec.  1.  Offences  may  be  brought  before  a  Judicatory  by 
individual  accusation  or  common  fame.  In  the  former 
case,  the  process  must  be  in  the  name  of  the  accuser  or 
accusers.  In  the  latter,  no  person  need  be  named  as  the 
accuser. 

•Sec.  2.  In  exhibiting  charges,  the  time,  place,  and  cir- 
cumstances shall  be  accurately  stated  in  writing,  that  the 
accused  may  be  enabled  the  better  to  defend  himself 

Sec.  3.  Great  caution  is  to  be  exercised  in  receiving  ac- 
cusations where  there  is  good  reason  to  believe  that  they 
are  preferred  through  passion  or  improper  and  unchristian 
motive ;  or  where  the  accuser  is  under  censure,  or  not  of 
(rood  character,  or  has  the  prospect  of  temporal  advantage. 


40  CONSTITUTION, 

Sec.  4.  All  citations  sliall  be  issued  and  sipfned  by  the 
President  or  Clerk,  who  shall  also  furnish  citations  for  sach 
witnesses  as  may  be  required  on  either  side. 

Sec.  5.  A  copy  of  the  accusation  shall  be  furnished  to 
the  accused  at  the  time  when  the  citation  is  served ;  which 
citation  shall  designate  the  time  when,  and  place  where, 
the  accused  shall  put  in  his  answer.  Not  less  than  ten 
days  shall  be  allowed  to  intervene  between  the  time  when 
the  citation  is  served  and  the  answer  received  ;  and  no 
shorter  period  shall  be  allowed  between  receiving  the  an- 
swer of  the  accused  and  the  trial  of  the  case,  unless  by 
consent  of  all  the  parties  interested. 

Sec.  6.  When  the  accused  refuses  to  obey  the  citation, 
he  shall  be  cited  a  second  time,  which  second  citation 
shall  always  be  accompanied  by  a  notice,  that,  if  he  still  re- 
fuses to  appear  at  the  time  and  place  appointed,  he  shall 
not  only  be  liable  to  censure  for  contumacy,  but  that  the 
Judicatory  will  proceed  to  the  trial  and  decision  of  his 
case  as  if  he  were  present. 

Sec.  7.  In  cases  where  it  is  demanded  by  either  party, 
a  commission  of  the  Judicatory  may  be  appointed  by  it  to 
take  testimony  at  a  distance  ;  of  which  commission,  and 
of  the  time  and  place  of  their  meeting,  due  notice  shall  be 
given  to  all  the  parties. 

Sec.  8.  To  establish  an  accusation  against  any  member 
of  the  Church,  the  testimony  of  more  than  one  witness  is 
required.  The  witnesses,  after  being  sworn  or  duly  af- 
firmed, shall  be  examined  in  the  presence  of  the  accused, 
and  he  shall  be  permitted  to  cross-examine  them.  Yet,  if 
two  or  more  witnesses  bear  testimony  each  to  different 
acts  of  the  same  general  nature,  this,  if  not  disproved, 
shall  be  considered  sufficient  to  establish  the  accusation^ 
The  evidence  shall  be  faithfully  minuted  and  subscribed 
by  the  witness,  and  in  this  final  form,  with  the  sentence  oi 


PROCESS    AND    TRIAL.  M 

decision,  be  entered  on  the  records  ;  and  the  parties  shall 
be  allowed  copies  of  the  same,  at  their  own  expense,  if  de- 
sired. 

Sec.  9.  No  accusation  shall  be  admitted  unless  brought 
forward  by  the  accuser  within  the  space  of  two  years  af- 
ter the  crime  shall  be  alleged  to  have  been  committed ; 
excepting  when  it  shall  appear  that  unavoidable  impedi- 
ments prevented  the  bringing  an  accusation  sooner,  and  at 
the  trial  the  accuser  shall  not  sit  in  judgment  upon  the 
case. 

Sec,  10.  No  professional  counsel  shall  be  permitted  to 
appear  and  plead  in  cases  of  process  in  any  of  the  eccle- 
siastical courts  ;  but,  in  the  trial  of  any  case  before  a  Con- 
sistory, a  member  of  the  Classis  may  be  employed  to  pre- 
pare and  conduct  the  case  on  either  side.  And,  in  the 
higher  courts,  if  any  accused  person  feel  unable  to  repre- 
sent and  plead  his  own  case  to  advantage,  he  may  request, 
or  the  President  may  appoint,  any  Minister  or  Elder  be- 
longing to  the  judicatory  before  which  he  appears  to  pre- 
pare and  conduct  his  case  as  he  may  judge  proper.  But 
the  Minister  or  Elder  so  engaged  shall  not  be  allowed, 
after  pleading  the  case  of  the  accused,  to  sit  in  judgment 
as  a  member  of  the  judicatory. 

Sec.  11.  Such  as  obstinately  reject  the  admonitions  of 
the  Consistory,  or  have  been  found  guilty  of  the  commis- 
sion of  an  otherwise  gross  offence,  shall  be  suspended  from 
the  Lord's  Supper,  which  act  of  suspension  may  be  pub- 
lished at  the  discretion  of  the  Consistory  ;  and,  being  sus- 
pended and  repeatedly  admonished  without  discovering 
marks  of  repentance,  the  Church  shall  then  proceed  to  the 
last  remedy,  namely,  Excommunication  ;  agreeably  to  the 
adopted  form,  and  conformably  to  the  Word  of  God.  But 
no  person  shall  be  excommunicated  without  the  previous 
approval  of  the  Classis. 


42  constitution- 

Sec.  12.  Before  the  Churcli  proceeds  to  excommunica- 
tion, the  obstinacy  of  the  offender  shall  be  publicly  noti- 
fied to  the  congregation,  declaring  his  offences,  together 
with  the  particular  care  and  attention  bestowed  on  him,  by 
admonition,  suspension  from  the  Lord's  table,  and  by  re- 
peated remonstrances.  This  procedure  shall  be  comprised 
in  three  several  steps.  In  the  first  instance,  the  name  of 
the  offender  shall  not  be  mentioned,  that  he  may  in  some 
measure  be  spared.  In  the  second,  with  the  advice  of 
Classis,  his  name  shall  be  expressed.  In  the  third,  the 
congregation  shall  be  informed,  that,  unless  he  repenteth, 
he  will  be  excluded  from  the  communion  of  the  Church  ; 
so  that,  if  he  remain  obstinate,  his  excommunication  may 
take  place  with  their  tacit  approbation.  The  interval  be- 
tween these  notifications  shall  be  at  the  discretion  of  the 
CJonsistory. 

Sec.  13u  When  an  excommunicated  person  becomes 
penitent,  and  is  desiro-us  of  being  again  reconciled  to  the 
Church,  such  desire  shall  be  publicly  declared  to  the  con- 
gregation, either  before  the  administration  of  the  Lord's 
Supper,  or  at  some  other  seasonable  opportunity;  that,  if  no 
objections  are  offered,  he  may,  on  declaring  his  repentance, 
be  publicly  re-admitted  to  a  participation  of  the  Lord's 
Supper,  agreeably  to  the  form  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

ARTICLE  XIV. 
Of  AppeaU  and  Complaints. 
Sec.  1.  Any  member  of  the  Church,  conceiving  himself 
to  be  personally  aggrieved  or  injured  by  the  decision  of 
a  Judicatory,  may  appeal  therefrom  to  the  next  higher 
Judicatory.  Also,  a  Consistory  or  Classis  considering  it- 
self aggrieved  by  the  judgment  or  censure  of  a  higher 
Judicatory,  enjoys  the  tame  right  of  appeal. 

Sec.  2.  Any  one  intending  to  appeal  from  an  act  or  do- 


APPEALS    Al^TD    COMPLAINTS.  43 

cision  of  a  Judicatory,  must  at  the  time  of  the  action,  or 
within  ten  days  thereafter,  give  notice  of  such  intention 
to  the  President  of  the  body  from  whose  action  he  intends 
to  appeal.  Within  ten  days  after  such  notice  he  shall 
send  to  said  President  in  writing  the  appeal,  with  the 
reasons  thereof.     On  default  of  this,  the  appeal  falls. 

Sec.  3.  An  appeal  made  by  a  Judicatory  must  be  made 
by  it  as  such  regalarly  convened,  and  the  appeal,  with  the 
reasons  thereof,  must  be  sent  in  writing  to  the  President 
of  the  body  appealed  from,  within  twenty  days  of  the 
action  from  which  the  appeal  is  taken.  On  default  of  this, 
the  appeal  falls. 

Sec.  4.  If  an  appellant  give  notice  and  satisfactory  rea- 
sons to  the  President  of  the  Judicatory  to  which  the  ap- 
peal is  made,  that  he  cannot  attend  at  the  next  stated 
meeting  of  that  body,  his  appeal  shall  lie  over  to  the  next 
following  stated  meeting.  But  if  he  fail  to  appear,  and 
prosecute  his  appeal  without  such  notice  and  reasons,  it  is 
to  be  considered  as  relinquished. 

Sec.  5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  every  Judicatory  that 
has  tried  a  case  originally  or  by  appeal,  in  recording  its 
decision,  to  set  forth  at  length  the  reasons  thereof,  that 
the  record  may  exhibit,  as  far  as  practicable,  everything 
that  had  an  influence  on  its  judgment. 

Sec.  6.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  any  Judicatory  from 
whose  act  or  decision  an  appeal  is  made,  to  transmit  a 
certified  copy  of  the  action  appealed  from,  signed  by  the 
President,  and  countersigned  by  the  Clerk,  together  with 
the  appeal  and  reasons  accompanying  the  same,  to  the 
Judicatory  appealed  to,  at  the  next  regular  meeting  there- 
of, and  the  papers  thus  transmitted  shall  be  considered 
the  documents  in  the  case. 

Sec.  7.  An  inferior  Judicatory  shall  be  permitted  to 
send  a  commissioner  to  the  one  appealed  to,  for  the  pur- 


44  CONSTITUTION. 

pose  of  making  explanations  relative  to  the  case  ;  it  being 
expressly  understood,  that  the  original  parties  in  the  case 
ahall  have  the  same  right  of  being  heard  in  every  stage 
of  the  trial,  from  one  court  to  another. 

Sec.  8.  For  all  cases  that  have  originated  in  the  Con- 
sistory, the  Particular  Synod  shall  be  the  Final  Court  of 
Appeal,  except  when  as  many  members  of  the  Particular 
Synod,  as  there  are  Classes  connected  with  the  Synod 
shall,  within  ten  days  of  its  adjournment,  declare  in  writ- 
ing to  the  President  that  the  case  adjudicated  is  a  proper 
one  for  appeal  to  the  General  Synod.  In  such  case  an  ap 
peal,  if  constitutionally  made,  shall  be  entertained  by  the 
General  Synod. 

Sec.  9.  In  order  to  prevent  vexation  and  delay  in  the 
judicial  proceedings  of  any  ecclesiastical  assembly  by 
means  of  successive  appeals  in  the  progress  of  any  trial  or 
investigation,  the  party  who  may  consider  himself  ag- 
grieved by  any  decision,  upon  any  incidental  question 
which  may  arise  before  a  final  sentence  is  pronounced, 
may  state  his  objections  to  such  decision,  and  require  to 
have  the  same  noted  in  the  minutes  of  the  proceedings,  to 
the  end  that  he  may  avail  himself  thereof  on  an  appeal 
from  the  final  sentence,  without  arresting  the  progress  of 
such  investigation  or  trial.  And  in  such  cases  every  de- 
cision objected  to,  as  well  as  the  objections,  shall  be 
distinctly  stated  in  the  minutes  of  such  assembly,  and 
sent  up  with  the  appeal  to  the  appellate  Judicatory  for 
review. 

Sec.  10.  Individuals  who  have  voted  in  a  lower  court 
upon  a  case  which  is  carried  up  by  a]>peal,  or  who  have 
prepared  and  conducted  such  case,  shall  not  be  at  liberty 
to  vote  upon  the  trial  of  the  appeal  in  the  higher  courts. 

Sec.  11.  If  a  minority  or  any  member  of  a  minority  of 
any  inferior  Church  Judicatory  shall  consider  any  sub- 


RULES    AND   AMENDMENTS.  45 

ordinate  decision  or  any  part  of  the  formal  proceedinga  to 
have  been  so  erroneous,  as  injuriously  to  affect  the  inter- 
ests of  truth  or  of  vital  godliness,  they  may  present  the 
same  by  way  of  complaint  to  the  next  higher  Judicatory 
for  its  examination  and  decision. 

Sec.  12.  This  complaint,  if  entertained,  brings  the 
whole  record  of  the  case  under  the  review  of  the  superior 
Judicatory. 

Sec.  13.  No  such  complaint  shall  be  entertained  except 
After  notice  given  to  the  President  of  the  body  complained 
of,  and  the  sending  of  the  complaint,  and  reasons  for  it,  as 
prescribed  in  cases  of  appeal. 

ARTICLE   XV. 
„jj  Of  Hules  and  Amendments. 

Se&  1.  The  General  Synod  shall  have  power  to  make 
11  such  rules  and  regvdations  as  may  be  necessary  for 
arrying  the   foregoing  articles   into    execution,   except 
»/here  provisioi^is  thereby  made  for  that  purpose. 

Sec.  2.  No  alteration  shall  ever  be  made  to  the  fore- 
going articles,  but  by  previous  recommendation  from  the 
d^eneral  Synod  to  the  respective  Classes,  and  the  consent 
of  a  majority  of  the  same  to  such  proposed  alteration, 
together  with  the  final  declarative  resolution  of  the 
Gfeneral  Synod  for  the  time  being ;  and  the  articles  as 
thus  determined  and  declared  shall  be  and  are  the  authori- 
tative and  only  Constitution  of  the  Reformed  Church  in 
America. 


APPENDIX 


I.  — FORMULARIES. 

No.  1. 
Farm  of  a  Professorial  Appointment. 
To  the  Rev.  , 

The  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America, 
reposing  confidence  in  your  piety,  learning  and  talents, 
have  elected  you  a  Professor  in  their  Theological  College 

at .     The  branches  in  which  you  are  to  in- 

Btruct  the  youth  committed  to  your  charge  are,   


,  with  such  modifications  as  the  Synod  may  here- 
after direct. 

To  free  you  from  wordly  cares  and  avocations,  while 
discharging  the   duties  of  your  oflBce,  we  promise  and 

oblige  ourselves  to  pay  to  you  the  sum  of ,  in 

payments,  yearly  and  every  year,  as  long  as  you 

continue  Professor  in  our  Seminary  as  aforesaid.  For  the 
assumption  of  tlie  powers,  and  the  execution  of  the  duties 
of  your  oflBce  in  the  Theological  Department  of  the  Col- 
lege, this  is  your  commission,  and  may  the  Head  of  the 
Church  render  your  labors  useful  and  pleasant. 

Signed  by  order  of  ihe  Synod, 

,  President. 

Done  in  General  Synod, 

this day  of ,  18 — . 

(46) 


FORMULAS.  47 

No.  2. 

Form  of  License. 

To  all  whom  it  may  concern,  In  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  the  great  Head  of  the  Church,  we  send 
greeting : 

Be  it  known,  that ,  having  presented  to  the 

Classis  of testimonials  of  his  literary  and  theo- 
logical acquirements  from  the  Professors  of  the  Theologi- 
cal Seminary  at ,  was  admitted  to  an 

examination  in  the  Hebrew  and  Greek  languages,  and 
the  different  branches  of  Theology  as  prescribed  in  the 
Constitution  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America,  and 
that  the  Classis  being  well  satisfied  of  his  gifts,  piety, 
and  qualifications  to  preach  the  Gospel,  did,  in  the  name 
of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  King  and   Head  of  the 

Church,  resolve  that  the  said be,  and  hereby  is, 

allowed  and  authorized  as  a  candidate  for  the  sacred  min- 
istry within  their  bounds,  and  wherever  the  Providence 
of  God  may  call  him,  to  preach  the  Gospel  of  our  blessed 
Lord  and  Saviour.  And  the  said  Classis  recommend 
him  to  the  esteem  and  attention  of  all  those  to  whom 
these  presents  may  come,  as  well  qualified  to  preach  a 
crucified  Saviour. 

The  Classis  do  fervently  pray,  that  the  great  Head  of 
the  Church  may  further  qualify  him  for  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  make  him  eminently  useful  in  that  part  of 
His  vineyard  where  he  may  be  called. 

Done  in  Classis,  in  the ,  on  this day 

of ,  18 — . 

,  President. 

,  Clerk. 


48  C0NSTITTJTI0]5r. 

No.  3. 
Form  of  Testimonial  of  Ordination. 

In  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  the  great  Head 
of  the  Church,  to  all  whom  it  may  concern,  we  send 
greeting : 

Be  it  known  that was  admitted  by  the  Classis 

of  to  an  examination  on  the  different  branches  of 

Theology,  as  prescribed  in  the  Constitution  of  the 
Reformed  Church  in  America,  preparatory  to  ordina- 
tion, and  the  Classis  being  well  satisfied  with  his  gifts, 
piety  and  qualifications  to  preach  the  Gospel  and  admin- 
ister the  Sacraments,  did,  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesua 
Christ,  the  King  and  Head  of  the  Church,  resolve  that 

the  said be  ordained  to  the  Gospel  ministry,  and 

in  conformity  to  said  resolution  did,  on  the day 

of ,  set  him  apart  solemnly  to  the  woi  k  of  the 

sacred  ministry,  according  to  the  rites  and  forms  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  and  receive  him  into  ministerial 
communion.  And  the  said  Classis  do  recommend  him  to 
the  esteem  and  attention  of  all  those  to  whom  these  pres- 
ents shall  come,  as  qualified  to  pre?.ch  the  Gospel,  and  to 
administer  the  Sacraments  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ. 

The  Classis  do  fervently  pray  that  the  great  Head  of  the 
Church  may  abundantly  qualify  him  for  the  work  of  the 
ministry,  and  make  him  eminently  useful  in  that  part  of 
the  vineyard  where  he  may  be  called  to  labor. 


Done  in  Classis,  at ,  on  this day  of 

18 — . 


President. 


Clerk. 


FORMULAS.  40 

No.  4. 

Farm  of  a  Certificate  of  the  Diamision  of  a  Minister  from 

his  Congregation. 

This  certifies  that  the   undersigned,   by  request,  was 

present  at  a  meeting  of  the  Consistory  of  the  Church  of 

,  on  the  day  of ,  A.D., ,  and 

superintended  the  proceedings  thereof,  when  it  was  resolv- 
ed that  an  application  be  made  to  the  Classis  of 

for  a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  connection  between  the 

Rev. and  said  Church ;  and  that  the  Rev. 

declared  his  concurrence  in  such  application 


No.  5. 

Form  of  Certificate  of  Dismission  of  Church  Members. 

This  certifies,  that is  a  member  in  full  com- 
munion of  the  Reformed  Church  of ,  in  good 

and  regular  standing  ;   as  such is  at own 

request,  dismissed,  for  the  purpose  of  connecting 

with  the  Church  of ,  to  whose    Christian 

fellowship  and  confidence is  hereby  affectionately 

commended ;  and   when  received  by  them, pecu- 
liar relation  to  this  Church  shall  cease. 

By  order  of  Consistory. 

,  President. 

Given  at , ,  18 — . 

fW  This  Certificate  is  valid  only  for  one  year  from  its  date,  except 
where  there  has  been  no  opportunity  of  presenting  it. 


50 


CONSTITUTION, 


No.  6. 
Form  of  the  Register  of  Baptisms. 


DATE  or 
BAPTISM. 


NAMES  OF  THE 
BAPTIZED. 


NAMES  or  THE 
PARENTS. 


TIME  OF 
BIRTH. 


KEMARKB. 


NJB.—  In  recording  the  name  of  the  Mother,  ^ve  her  family  or 
maiden  name. 


No.  7. 
Form  of  Certificate  of  Marriage, 
To  all  whom  it  may  concern :  This  certifies  that  the 

Bonds  of  Marriage   between  and were   by 

me   confinued,  according  to  the  usages  of  the  Reformed 

Church  in  America,  on  the day  of ,  in  the 

year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and . 

Given   af ,  this day  of , 

AD,,  18-. 


'Minister  of  the  Reformed 
Church  in  , 


FORMULAS. 


No.  8    , 
Form  of  Conmtorial  Report. 


1 

Census 
Number  op  Families. 

i-t 

jOn  Confession. 

1 

On  Certificate. 

1        Dismissed. 

1        Suspended. 

Died. 

- 

Total  now  in  Com- 
munion. 

r 

Infants. 

> 

Adults. 

Number  of  Catechu- 
mens. 

p 

■:} 

Number  of 
Sabbath  Schools. 

Total 
Number  of  Schol'rs. 

05 
> 

i 

Religious  and  Be- 
nevolent Purposes. 

i 

^. 

Concregational 
Purposes. 

i 

52 


CONSTITUTION. 


No.  9. 

Form  of  a  ClassiccU  Report. 


•Bsaippv  aoroo 


'oagod 


•BJBioqag 
JO  jaqoitiu  [B^oj, 


•fHOoqog 
mBqqBg  JO  jaqran^ 


•eaaoi 
■nqoaiBo  JO  jaquin^ 


•siinpv 


•e^oBjai 


a^uioo  m  Moa  ibjox 


•paia 


•papaadsng 


•passiraeja 


•a^Bogpjao  ao 


•noiseajuoo  uq 


•Banira^^  JO  aaqran^i 
snsuoo 


•eaoisYj 


•b'SHoanuo 


F0EMULA8.  53 

No.  10. 

Foi^m  of  the  Citation  of  a  Person  accused. 

By  order  of  the ,*  you,  Mr.   A.  B. ,f  are 

hereby  summoned  %   to  appear  before  said  ,  and 

answer  to  the  charge  herewith  presented,  at ,  on 

the day  of  ,  at o'clock . 

(Signed)  ,  Pres. 

,  Clerk. 

Done  in ,  at ,  this 

d^y  of ,  18—. 


No.  11. 

Form  of  the  Citation  of  Witnesses. 

By  order  of  the ,  §  you,  Mr.  A.  B. ,  \  are 

hereby  summoned  **  to    appear  before  the  said , 

at ,  ou  the day  of ,  and  at o'clock 

in  the ,  to  give  your  testimony  in  the  case  of  C.  D., 

presently  under  process  for  censure  by  said . 

(Signed)  ,  Pres. 

,  Clerk. 


*  Consistory  of  the  Reformed  Church  at ,  or 

the  Classis  of . 

t  Member  of,  or  Elder,  or  Deacon  in  said  Congregation  ;  or  Minister 
at ,  under  the  inspection  of  said  Classis. 

X  If  the  process  be  raised  at  the  instance  of  a  party  complaining, 
K-dd,  after  "  summoned,"  at  the  instance  of  C.  D. 

§  Consistory  of  the  Reformed  Church  at ,  or 

the  Classis  of . 

i  Member  of,  or  Elder,  or  Deacon  in  said  Congregation  ;  or  Minister 
at ,  under  the  inspection  of  said  Classis,  and  if  the  witness  be- 
longs to  a  different  judicatory,  the  blank  is  to  be  filled  up  accordingly. 

**  If  the  process  be  raised  at  the  instance  of  a  party  complaining, 
add,  after  the  word  "  summoned,"  at  the  instance  of  C.  D. 


IL— THE  RECEPTION  OF  MINISTERS. 

1.  No  licentiate  nor  ordained  minister,  from  any  other 
ecclesiastical  body,  shall  be  received  into  any  Classis  until, 
either  by  documentary  evidence  or  examination,  they  shall 
have  become  satisfied  of  his  competent  literary  qualifica- 
tions ;  nor  until,  upon  examination,  they  shall  also 
become  fully  satisfied  of  his  competent  theological  attain- 
ments, his  piety,  soundness  in  the  faith  and  ability  to 
teach,  and  shall  have  received  his  entire  assent  to  the 
standards  of  our  Church,  as  to  doctrine  and  discipline. 

2.  That  if  any  candidate  or  minister,  applying  for  ad- 
mission into  any  Classis,  shall,  in  the  judgment  of  Classis, 
have  sought  and  obtained  licensure  or  ordination  from 
any  ecclesiastical  organization  for  the  sake  of  an  easier 
admission  into  our  Church  than  upon  the  strict  terms  en- 
joined  upon  our  own  students  at  New  Brunswick,  it  shall 
be  considered  a  disqualification,  to  be  removed  only  by  a 
dispensation  from  the  General  Synod. 

3.  No  licentiate  shall  be  received  as  a  candidate  under 
the  care  of  Classis,  or  be  privileged  to  minister  in,  or  re- 
ceive a  call  from  our  Churches,  unless  he  shall  have  spent 
the  same  amount  of  time  in  actual  attendance  on  theologi- 
cal instruction  that  is  required  from  our  own  students ; 
and  any  deficiency  in  this  respect  shall  be  made  up  by 
study  in  our  own  Seminary. 

4.  It  is  enjoined  on  the  Standing  Committee  on  Doc- 
trine in  the  several  Classes,  when  a  vacancy  occurs,  to 
send  to  such  vacant  church,  immediately,  a  list  of  the 
licentiates  of  our  own  Seminary,  and  to  use  their  endeav- 
ors to  procure  for  them  an  early  hearing  ;  and  it  is  rec- 
ommended to  the  consistories  of  our  Churches,  in  all 
«yu9ea,  promptly  to  endeavor  to  obtain  their  services. 

(54) 


RECEPTION   OF   MINISTERS.  55 

5.  Whenever  a  Church  becomes  vacant,  it  shall  be  the 
duty  of  the  Classis  to  exercise  guardianship  over  it,  and 
when  requested  by  the  consistory,  to  supply  it  as  far  as 
practicable  by  their  personal  services — -thus  preventing 
the  disorganizing  influence  of  casual  and  indiscriminate 
ministrations  ;  and  to  maintain  such  a  supervision  over 
it,  and  minister  such  aid  as  is  necessary  to  carry  out  these 
rules,  and  such  as  a  destitute  Church  is  entitled  to  claim 
from  its  very  relations. 

().  No  foreign  minister  shall  be  received  on  mere  pri- 
vate letters  of  introduction  or  recommendation  ;  but,  in 
all  cases,  full  ecclesiastical  certificates  shall  be  required. 

7.  No  foreign  minister  shall  be  received  by  any  Classis, 
unless  he  shall  have  undergone  a  probation  of  one  year 
under  the  care  of  a  Classis,  and  shall  then  present  the 
same  testimonials,  and  undergo  the  examination  required 
by  the  first  of  these  rules. 

8.  These  rules  shall  be  inserted  in  some  conspicuous 
place  in  the  minute-books  of  the  le^pective  Classes. 


III.— RULES  OF  ORDER. 

1.  At  every  stated  meeting  of  the  Synod,  a  sermon  shall 
be  preached  by  the  last  President,  either  before  his  open- 
ing* the  session  with  prayer,  or  at  some  time  afterward, 
which  the  Synod  shall  deem  most  convenient.  If  the  last 
President  and  the  Adsessor  be  absent,  the  oldest  minister 
present  shall  take  his  place  and  perform  the  above  duties. 

2.  The  President  and  Adsessor  shall  be  elected  by  bal- 
lot, by  a  majority  of  all  the  members  present;  and  if 
after  the  first  vote  there  is  no  election,  the  choice  shall  be 
made  from  the  two  who  have  the  highest  number  of  votes. 
The  clerks  shall  be  elected  by  plurality.  ..a 

3.  The  duties  of  the  President  shall  be  :  s 
(1.)  To  take  the  chair  at  the  hour  to  which  the  Synod 

stands  adjourned. 

(3.)  To  open  and  conclude  with  prayer. 

(3.)  To  direct  the  Clerk,  immediately  after  a  quorum  has 
appeared,  to  call  the  roll. 

(4.)  To  censure  absentees  when  their  absence  shall  be 
judged  not  to  have  been  necessary. 

(5.)  To  propound  the  subjects  for  deliberation. 

(6.)  To  confine  speakers  to  the  point,  and  to  save  them 
from  unnecessary  interruption. 

(7.)  To  state  and  put  the  question,  when  the  members 
are  prepared  to  vote. 

(8.)  To  prevent  members  from  leaving  the  Synod  with- 
out permission. 

(9.)  To  decide  questions  of  order,  subj  ect,  however,  to  an 
appeal  to  the  house  by  any  two  members. 

(10.)  To  give  the  casting  vote  in  all  equal  divisions. 

(11.)  And,  in  general,  to  maintain  the  order  and  dignity 
becoming  the  judicatory  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

4.  After  calling  the  roll,  the  minutes  of  the  last  sit- 

(56) 


RULES    OF   ORDER.  57 

ting  shall  be  read,  and  considered  as  open  to  correction. 
The  business  on  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  or  sit- 
ting, shall,  without  powerful  reasons,  be  taken  up  and 
concluded  first,  in  the  order  in  which  it  stands,  before  any 
new  business  be  introduced, 

5.  A  motion  made  must  be  seconded,  and  afterwards 
repeated,  or  read  aloud  from  the  Chair,  before  it  is  de- 
bated ;  and  every  motion  except  a  motion  for  adjourn- 
ment, shall  be  reduced  to  writing  if  any  member  require  it. 

6.  An  amendment  may  be  made  to  any  motion,  and  it 
shall  be  decided  before  the  original  motion.  It  may  be, 
in  its  turn,  suspended  by  an  amendment  to  itself,  which 
must  first  be  considered  and  decided.  But  no  additional 
amendment  to  an  original  motion  can  be  received  until 
the  previous  one  has  been  disposed  of. 

7.  When  a  question  is  under  debate,  no  motion  shall 
be  received  except  to  adjourn,  to  lay  on  the  table,  to 
postpone  indefinitely,  to  postpone  to  a  certain  time,  to 
commit  to  a  standing  committee,  to  a  select  one,  or  to  the 
committee  of  the  whole,  to  amend,  or  for  the  previous 
question ;  which  motions  shall  have  precedence  in  the 
order  stated. 

8.  When  the  previous  question  is  moved  and  seconded, 
it  shall  be  in  this  form :  "  Shall  the  main  question  be 
now  put  ?"  and  until  it  be  decided  all  amendments  and 
debate  shall  be  inadmissible.  If  the  vote  be  in  the 
affirmative,  the  original  motion  shall  be  immediately  put, 
without  further  amendment  or  debate.  Bnt  if  there  be 
an  amendment  or  amendments  pending  at  the  time,  the 
question  shall  first  be  taken  on  such  amendment  or 
amendments  in  their  proper  order,  without  debate.  If 
the  vote  be  in  the  negative,  the  debate  shall  continue  as 
before. 

9.  A  question  shall  not  be  ca'led  up  or  reconsidered  at 


,58  coNSirnjTioN. 

the  same  sessioii:  of  the  Synod  at  which  it  was  decided. 
unless  by  consent  of  two-thirds  of  the  members  present. 

10.  No  member  shall  be  allowed  to  protest  against  aoy 
of  the  acts  of  the  Synod ;  but  any  member  who  dissents 
from  any  such  acts  shall  have  a  right  to  require  the  names 
of  all  the  members  present,  who  vote  for  or  against  the 
same,  to  be  entered  in  the  minutes,  and  published  there- 
with for  the  information  of  all  concerned.  In  other  cases, 
the  yeas  and  nays  shall  not  be  recorded  unless  on  the  de- 
mand of  one-fifth  of  the  members  present. 

11.  The  mover  and  seconder  of  a  motion  may  withdraw 
a  before  debate  has  commenced  on  it,  but  not  afterwards, 
unless  by  leave  of  Sjnodv 

12.  In  filling  blanks,  when  various  motions  are  made, 
the  vote  shall  always  be  first  on  the  highest  number  and 
longest  time. 

13.  Every  member  shall  rise  and  address  himself  to  the 
President  only,  closely  attending  to  the  subject  in  debate, 
avoiding  all  personal  reflections ;  and  no  member,  without 
the  special  permission  of  the  Synod,  shall  speak  more  than 
twice  on  the  same  subject.  When  two  or  more  members 
rise  to  speak  at  the  same  time,  the  President  shall  deter- 
mine who  of  them  shall  be  heard  first. 

14.  After  the  President  has  begun  to  take  the  vote,  or 
the  Clerk  to  call  the  roll  on  a  division  of  the  house,  no 
debate  nor  remark  shall  be  allowed. 

15.  A  motion  to  adjourn  or  to  lay  on  the  table,  and  all 
motions  in  relation  to  priority  of  business,  shall  be  decided 
without  debate.  The  motion  to  po-*tpone  or  to  commit 
fhall  preclude  all  debate  of  the  main  question. 

16.  When  an  appeal  is  taken  from  a  decision  of  the 
Chair  on  a  point  of  order,  the  President  shall  have  the 
right  to  explain  the  grounds  of  his  decision,  but  the  ap- 
peal shall  be  decided  by  the  house  without  debate. 


RULES    OF    ORDER.  59 

17.  No  member  shall  leave  the  Synod  to  return  home  or 
for  other  business  without  their  consent  ;  nor  shall  mem- 
bers, without  express  permission,  engage  in  private  con- 
versation, go  from  or  change  their  seats  during  the  trans- 
action of  business  ;  interrupt  another  when  he  is  speaking, 
except  he  be  out  of  order,  or  to  correct  mistakes  and  mis- 
representations ;  and  if  any  member  act  indecently  or 
disorderly,  contrary  to  these  rules,  the  President  sliall  re- 
prove or  otherwise  censure  him,  as  the  Synod  shall  judge 
proper ;  the  member  still  having  th-e  privilege,  if  he 
think  himself  denied  any  right  or  unjustly  blamed  by 
the  President,  of  respectfully  and  modestly  requiring  the 
decision  of  the  house  in  the  case, 

18.  All  the  sittings  of  General  Synod  shall  be  concluded 
by  regular  adjournment  and  prayer, 

19.  At  the  close  of  every  session  of  General  Synod  th-e 
roll  shall  be  called,  and  the  names  of  those  who  are  absent 
without  permission  shall  be  recorded. 

20.  Standing  Committees : 

(1.)  Professorate. 

(2.)  Overtures. 

(3.)  Synodical  Minutes. 

(4.)  Domestic  Missions. 

(5 )  Foreign  Missions. 

(6.)  State  of  Religion, 

(7.)  Education. 

(8.)  Judicial  Business,  d 

(9.)  Widows'  and  Disabled  Ministers'  Funds. 

(10.)  Publication. 

(11.)  Nominations. 

(12.)  Correspondence. 

(13.)  Accounts. 

(14.)  Leave  of  Absence. 

(15.)  Board  of  Direction, 


60  CONSTITUTION. 

21.  All  distinctive  titles  or  appendages  to  the  names  of 
members  of  Synod  shall  be  omitted  in  recording  the  min- 
utes of  this  Synod  :  such  distinctive  title  being  prefixed 
or  appended  to  the  name  of  the  member  in  the  list  of 
members  constituting  the  Synod. 

22.  Primarii  and  Secundi : 

(1.)  When  a  Primarias  shall  find  it  impracticable  to  at- 
tend the  judicatory  to  which  he  is  delegated,  it  shall  be 
his  duty  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  notify  a  Secundus,  and 
when  he  shall  take  his  seat  it  shall  not  be  vacated  to  give 
place  to  the  Primarius. 

(2.)  At  the  commencement  of  the  session,  the  members 
delegated,  whether  Primarii  or  Secundi,  shall  be  recog 
nized  and  recorded,  bat  when  the  Primarius  shall  appear 
at  any  subsequent  period  of  the  session,  then  the  Prima- 
rius shall  take  the  seat  of  the  Secundus,  and  the  Secundus 
shall  not  be  considered  a  member  again,  unless  by  request 
of  the  Primarius,  and  express  permission  obtained  by  the 
Synod. 

23.  Judicial  Business : 

(1.)  Any  appeal,  complaint,  or  other  judicial  business, 
which  shall  be  presented  or  reported  to  the  Synod,  shall 
be  first  referred,  with  all  the  papers  and  documents  apper- 
taining thereto,  to  the  Committee  on  Judicial  Business, 
who  shall  inquire  whether  the  same  has  been  regularly 
brought  before  the  Synod,  and  whether  all  the  constitu- 
tional steps  in  the  case  liaire  been  taken,  and,  if  the  same 
shall  be  found  in  order,  they  shall  digest  and  arrange  all 
the  papers  and  documents  connected  therewith,  that  the 
subsequent  proceedings  in  the  case  before  the  Synod  may 
be  regular  and  systematic ;  provided,  nevertheless,  that 
the  said  committee  shall  be  required  to  report  upon  every 
matter  that  may  be  referred  to  them. 

(2.)  Whenever  any  case  thus  reported  shall  be  taken 


RULES    OF    ORDER.  61 

up  for  trial,  the  President  shall  solemnly  announce  from 
the  Chair  that  the  Synod  is  about  to  proceed  to  the  con- 
sideration of  judicial  business,  and  enjoin  on  the  members 
to  recollect  and  regard  their  character  as  judges  of  the 
highest  court  of  Jesus  Christ  on  earth,  known  to  the  Con- 
stitution of  the  Reformed  [Dutch]  Church  ;  after  which  it 
shall  not  be  in  order,  during  the  pending  of  such  trial,  to 
transact  any  legislative  business  bearing  on  the  case. 

(3.)  In  recording  their  decision,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  court  who  have  tried  any  judicial  business  in  the 
original  case,  or  by  appeal,  to  set  forth  at  length  the 
reasons  thereof,  that  the  record  may  exhibit,  as  far  as 
practicable,  everything  that  had  an  influence  on  their 
judgment ;  a  certified  copy  of  which,  with  the  act  of  pro- 
ceeding appeal  from,  shall  be  sent  up  by  them  to  the 
court  to  whom  the  appeal  may  be  taken.  Such  inferior 
court  shall  also  be  permitted  to  send  a  commissioner  to 
the  Synod,  for  the  purpose  of  making  any  explanations 
relative  to  said  case,  it  being  expressly  understood  that  in 
every  case  the  original  parties  be  not  lost  sight  of  in  any 
stage  of  trial. 

(4.)  In  taking  up  an  appeal,  after  having  ascertained 
that  the  appellant  has  conducted  it  regularly,  the  follow- 
ing shall  be  the  order  of  trial : 

[1.]  The  sentence  appealed  from  shall  be  read. 

[2.]  The  appeal  and  reasons  of  appeal  shall  be  read. 

[3.]  All  the  documents  in  the  case  shall  be  read,  in  the 
order  prescribed  by  the  Committee  on  Judicial  Business. 

[4.]  The  original  parties  shall  be  heard,  commencing 
with  the  appellant. 

[5.]  The  commissioner  of  the  inferior  judicatory  which 
has  tried  the  appeal  may  be  heard  in  explanation  of  the 
grounds  of  their  decision,  and  of  the  manner  of  their  pro- 
ceeding in  the  case. 


62  CONSTITUTION. 

[6.]  The  appellant  may  be  heard  in  reply. 

(5.)  After  all  the  parties  shall  have  been  fully  heard, 
and  all  the  information  gained  by  the  Synod  which  shall 
be  deemed  necessary,  the  parties  shall  withdraw,  when 
the  roll  shall  be  called,  that  every  member  may  have  an 
opportunity  to  express  his  opinion  on  the  case,  after  which 
the  final  vote  may  be  taken. 

(6.)  The  decision  may  be  either  to  confirm  or  reverse, 
in  whole  or  in  part,  the  judgment  of  the  inferior  judicatory, 
or  to  remit  the  cause,  with  instructions  or  for  a  new  trial. 

(7.)  In  the  trial  of  all  judicial  business  brought  before 
the  Synod  by  complaint  or  reference,  the  same  order  of 
proceeding  shall  be  observed,  as  far  as  practicable,  as  in 
cases  of  appeal,  but  no  complaint  shall  be  entertained 
unless  notice  of  the  same  shall  have  been  given  before  the 
rising  of  the  judicatory  whose  act  is  complained  of,  or 
within  ten  days  thereafter. 

24.  Religious  Exercises : 

(1.)  The  afternoon  of  the  first  day  shall  be  devoted  to 
exercises  of  prayer  and  praise. 

(2.)  The  first  half-hour  of  each  subsequent  morning  ses- 
sion shall  be  so  spent  after  the  reading  of  the  minutes. 

(3.)  The  Lord's  Supper  shall  be  observed  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  second  day. 

(4.)  A  sermon  in  behalf  of  the  benevolent  operations  of 
the  Church  shall  be  preached  on  the  evening  of  the  sixth 
day  of  the  session. 

25.  The  morning  of  the  third  day  of  the  session  shall  be 
devoted  to  the  purpose  of  hearing  from  the  secretaries  of 
our  various  Boards  such  oral  statements  as  they  shall  see 
fit  to  make  ;  after  which,  an  opportunity  shall  be  afibrded 
for  a  free  interchange  of  opinion  and  feeling  among  the 
members  of  the  Synod  in  regard  to  the  benevolent  opera- 
tions of  the  Church. 


RULES    OF    ORDER.  63 

26.  A  rule  of  order  may  be  suspended  for  the  time  by 
unanimous  consent. 

27.  These  rules  (except  23.  23,  24.  and  35)  shall  be  read 
at  the  opening  of  each  General  Synod. 


INDEX  TO  THE  CONSTITUTION. 


PAOK 

Amendments  to  the  Constitution 45 

Appeals  42-45 

Assemblies,  ecclesiastical  23 

what  kind  of  business  to  do 23 

their  officers 23 

must  open  and  close  with  prayer 28 

members  must  have  signed  credentials 23 

Baptism,  who  may  administer 13,15 

in  what  place 35,86 

must  be  recorded 25 

Baptized  persons,  members  of  the  Church 37 

Call  of  a  minister,  who  may  make  it 24,  26 

must  be  approved  by  Classis  26 

its  form  27,28 

Candidate  for  the  ministiy,  qualifications 11, 13 

cannot  administer  sacraments 13 

is  under  care  of  Classis 13 

how  to  act  upon  calls 13, 14 

form  of  his  license 47 

Canons  of  Dort  to  be  assented  to 12, 14, 19 

Catechizing  of  youth  required 15,  27,  32 

C'enmra  Morum  required 25,  32 

Certificate,  professorial 12 

of  licensure 13,  47 

of  ordination 15,  48 

of  dismission  of  a  minister 49 

of  dismission  of  church  members 26,  49 

Citation,  of  accused  persons 40,  63 

of  witnesses  40,53 

(65) 


Q6  INDEX. 

Classis,  by  whom  formed 30,  33 

what  it  consists  of 30 

its  powers 30 

is  to  examine  students 30 

must  meet  semi-annually. 31 

wpecial  meetings,  liow  called 31 

must  send  minutes  to  Particular  Synod 33 

keep  book  of  formula 31 

require  statistics 26 

put  yearly  inquiries 32 

to  report  annually  to  the  Synod  licensures,  ordinations  and 

removals  of  ministers 81 

to  appoint  delegates  to  Particular  Synod 32 

to  nominate  delegates  to  General  Synod 82 

may  form  new  Consistories 24 

separate  combined 29,  30 

authorize  excommunication 41,  43 

must  have  a  standing  committee  on  vacant  congregations 17 

Collegiate  Churches,  their  representation  in  Classis 30 

Complaints,  when  allowed 42 

their  effect 43,44 

Consistories,  how  constituted 24,  25 

how  chosen 21,  22 

quorum 25 

the  minister  to  preside  at  their  meetings 24 

have  the  right  to  call  ministers 26 

yet  must  consult  Great  Consistory  or  congregation  at  large. .  29 

must  keep  minutes  and  report  to  Classis 25,  26 

observe  Censura  Morum  25 

Consistory,  Great  20,  yQ 

Correspondence  of  Synods 38 

of  General  Synod  with  other  bodies 34 

Counsel,  professional,  not  allowed 41 

Credentials  of  delegates  to  be  signed 23 

Deacons,  their  office 21 

quorum 25 

rights  in  Consistory 24 

how  chosen 21,  22 

term  of  office 22 

joint  powers  with  ciders 24 

Discipline,  its  objects 37 

nature 37 


INDEX.  67 

Discipline,  its  eubjects 37 

Dismission  of  a  member 26,49 

of  a  minister 16,  80,  49 

Dispensations  from  study,  when  and  by  whom  granted  13 

Ecclesiastical  assemblies  to  open  and  close  with  prayer 23 

Elders,  office  of 21 

have  spiritual  government 24,  26 

how  chosen 21,  22 

quorum  of 25 

joint  powers  with  deacons 24 

Emeritus,  who  and  when  declared 16 

Examination,  of  students 12 

of  candidates 13, 14 

must  be  careful 30 

by  whom  made 30,  31 

of  licentiates  or  ministers  of  other  churches 17, 18,  54 

of  foreigners 55 

Excommunication,  when  allowed 41 

only  by  advice  of  Classis 41 

how  conducted 42 

how  reversed 42 

Fama  Clamosa,  what  constitutes  it 38 

Family  Visitation,  required 15,  32 

Foreign  Ministers,  rule  concerning 17,  55 

Foreign  Missionary  Fields,  Synods  allowed  to  grant  dispensations 

there 35 

Great  Consistory,  its  nature  and  function  29,  30 

General  Synod,  its  constitution 34 

to  meet  annually 34 

quorum  of 34 

delegate's  seat,  when  vacated 34,  60 

criginal  cognizance 34 

appellate  jurisdiction 35 

special  meetings 35 

Heidelberg  Catechism,  to  be  assented  ,to 12,  14,  20 

to  be  regularly  explained 27,  28,  32 

Informers,  liability  of 37 

Ipso  facto  dismissions,  of  ministers 30 

of  members 39 

Jurisdiction  of  a  Classis  over  a  Consistory  defined 80 

Lord's  Supper,  by  whom  administered -. 13, 15 

how  often 36 


68  INDEX. 

Lord's  Supper,  in  what  way  administered 36 

suspension  from 41 

Limitation  of  time  for  accusations 41 

Marriages,  to  be  recorded 25 

form  of  certificate  of 50 

Members,  how  received  25 

how  dismissed 26 

form  of  dismission 49 

Ministers  of  the  Word,  office  of 15 

must  be  regularly  ordained 11 

are  all  equal 17 

from  other  bodies  to  be  examined  before  received 17,  18,  54 

to  preside  at  all  Consistorial  meetings 24 

when  suspended 29 

are  for  life 16 

may  become  emeritus 16 

Ministers  without  charge,  limitation  of 16 

Minutes,  must  be  kept 26 

sent  to  Classis 26 

to  Particular  Synod 33 

to  General  Synod 33 

Ordination,  how  conducted 15 

Offences,  private,  nature  of 37 

how  to  be  dealt  with 87 

public,  nature  of 38 

principal  ones 38 

limitation  of  time  in  bringing  forward  — 41 

Particular  Synods,  by  whom  constituted 35 

of  whom  composed 32 

their  powers 33 

their  quorum 32 

meet  annually 33 

annual  report  to  the  General  Synod 33 

special  meeiings —  3S 

Private  Baptism,  when  allowed 36 

conditions  of 36 

I*rocess  and  Trial 39 

Professors  of  Theology,  how  chosen 18 

duties  of  19,  46 

must  sign  formula 19 

cannot  be  pastors  or  members  of  church  judicatories 20 

are  amenable  to  General  Synod 19 


INDEX.  69 

Profeseors  of  Theology,  resiguation  of  office 20 

Protests  not  allowed 24 

substitute  for 24 

Psalms  and  Hymns,  what  allowed 36 

Quorum  of  a  Consistory 25 

of  a  Classis 30 

of  Particular  Synod 32 

of  General  Synod 84 

Registers  required 25 

Sacraments 35,  36 

who  may  administer 13, 15 

Students  in  Theology,  credentials  required  of 12 

examination  of 12 

Synods,  see  Particular  and  General. 

Temporal  Contract,  form  of 28 

inquiry  into 32 

Vacant  Churches,  control  of  their  pulpits 17,  55 

Witnesses,  to  he  sworn  or  affirmed 40 

how  cited 40 

form  of  citation 53 

to  he  more  than  one 40 

their  evidence  to  be  recorded 40 

Worship,  Order  of  3fi 


DIGEST 


Jiiirs  of  the  #ctteal|'mi0tl 


"^EEFORMED  OHUECH  IN  AMEEIOA, 


SESSION  IN  JUNE  18G9,  INCLUSIVE. 


Prepared  by  a  Committee  appointed  for  the  purpose. 


PUBLISHED  BY  OEDER  OF  SYNOD. 


NEW  YORK: 
BOAED  OF  PUBLICATION 

Synod's  Rooms,  150  William  Stkekt. 
1869. 


OONTEi^Tfe. 


Chap.        I.    Name  of  the  Church. 
"  II.    Constitution  of  the  Church. 

"        III.    Consistoi-ies. 
"        IV.    Classes. 
V.    Synods, 

"        A.    General.    B.    Particular. 
VI.    Boards  of  the  Church, 
"  "         A.    Direction.    B.    Domestic  Missions. 

*'  "         C.    For.  Missions.    D.    Education.    E.    Publication. 

"      VII.    Educational  Institutions  of  the  Church, 
"         "         A.    Theological  Seminary  at  New  Brunswick. 

B.  "  "  Holland. 

"  "  C.    Itutger's  College. 

"         "         E.    Hope  College. 
*'     VIII.    Funds  of  the  Church, 
A.    Widow's  Fund. 
"         "  B.    Disabled  Minister's  Fund. 

"         "  C.    Church  Building  Fund. 

"        IX.    Church  Government. 
"  X.    Doctrines  and  Morals. 

"        XI.    Customs  and  Usages. 
"      XII.    Correspondence  with  other  Churches. 
•'    XIII.    Religious  Newspaper. 
"     XIV.     Particularia. 

For  pages  and  fuller  statements  of  sections  see  the  index  at  the 
close  of  the  volume. 


DIGEST. 


CHAPTER  I. 

NAME   OF   THE   CHURCH. 

Jhe  Reformed  Church  in  America 

The  incorporation  of  tlie  General  Synod  granted  by 
the  Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York,  April  7th 
1819,  was  under  the  designation  of  "  The  Keformed 
Protestant  Dutch  Church." 

At  the  session  of  Synod  in  June,  1866,  a  Committee 
was  appointed  to  consider  the  propriety  of  a  change  in 
the  name  of  the  Church.  The  Committee  reported  in 
June,  1867.  Their  Report  is  printed  as  an  Appendix  to 
the  Minutes  of  Synod  of  that  year.  The  action  of  Synod 
accepting  the  change  proposed,  and  referring  it  to  the 
Classes,  is  contained  in  the  same  Minutes  (June,  1867), 
pp.,  239-343.  The  Classes  reported,  twenty-five  affirm- 
atively and  six  negatively,  to  Synod  in  an  extra  session 
Nov.  1867.  See  Minutes  of  the  session,  Vol.  XI.,  pp. 
331-335.  A  Committee  was  appointed  to  secure  the 
necessary  legislative  enactments.  A'  memorial  to  the 
Legislature  of  the  State  of  New  York  was  adopted  in 
June,  1838,  Minutes,  Vol.  XL.  pp.  4G4-166.  At  the  ses- 
sion of  Synod  in  June,  1859,  information  was  received 
of  the  passing  of  the  following  act  by  the  Legislature : 


6  DIGEST.  Gh.  I 

"  The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in 
Senate  and  AssemUy,  do  enact  as  follows  : 
The  ecclesiastical  body  hitherto  incorporated  and 
known  by  the  corporate  title  of  the  General  Synod  of 
the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church,  shall  hereafter 
be  designated  and  known  by  the  corporate  title  of  the 
General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  America,  and 
as  such  exercise  and  enjoy  all  the  rights  and  powers  it 
has  hitherto  possessed. 

This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately." 
Vol.  XI.,  p.  625. 

CHAPTER  II. 

CONSTITUTION  OF  THE   CHURCH. 

The  Constitution  of  the  Reformed  Church  includes, 
1.  The  Revised  Rules  of  Church  Government.  2.  Her 
Doctrinal  Standards,  consisting  of  the  Confession  of 
Faith,  the  Heidelberg  Catechism  and  Compendium,  and 
the  Canons  af  the  Synod  of  Dort.  3.  The  Liturgy,  Vol. 
IV.,  pp.  425,  426. 

CHAPTER  HI. 

CONSISTORIES. 

Sec.  I.  To  obey  Sec.  20,  Art.  1,  Chap.  1,  of  Constitu- 
tion. 
The  General  Synod  enjoins  upon  the  Consistories  of 
the  several  churches  strictly  to  adhere  to  the  article  of 
the  Constitution  in  relation  to  thc^  Standing  Committee 
of  Classis  in  relation  to  vacant  congregations.  Vol.  V., 
p.  58. 

Sec.  II.    Synodical  Minutes  are  to  he  examined. 
It  is  recommended  to  all  the  Consistories  under  the 


Sec.  3  CONSISTORIES.  7 

supervision  of  this  Synod,  to  appoint  a  committee  annu- 
ally, as  near  the  1st  of  June  as  possible,  to  be  called  the 
Committee  of  Synodical  Minutes,  whose  duty  it  shall  be, 
as  soon  after  the  authenticated  copies  of  the  Minutes 
have  been  received  as  possible,  to  examine  the  Minutes 
of  Particular  and  General  Synods,  and  report  to  their 
several  Consistories  the  subjects  that  require  their 
action.     Vol.  V.,  p.  162. 

Sec.  III.     To  seek  aid  from  the  Board  of  Missions, 
through  Glassis. 

It  is  recommended  to  every  church  now  receiving  aid 
from  the  Board  of  Missions,  or  hereafter  to  receive  aid 
from  the  same,  first  to  make  application  to  the  Classis 
within  whose  bounds  it  is  situated,  and  that  such  Clas- 
sis be  requested  to  consider  the  case,  and  if,  in  their 
opinion,  possessing  a  fair  claim  to  the  measure  of  aid 
which  said  church  specifies,  recommend  it  to  the  Board 
to  allow  them  the  said  appropriation.     Vol.  V.,  p.  290. 

Sec.  IV.     To  endencor  to  support  Beneficiaries  recom- 
mended by  themselves. 

When  any  church  recommends  a  beneficiary  to  the 
funds  of  the  Education  Board,  or  any  other  funds  at  the 
disposal  of  this  Synod  for  classical  or  theological  educa- 
tion, said  church  or  consistory  shall  first  make  an  effort 
to  sustain  such  young  man,  and  report  to  the  Classis 
with  which  such  church  is  connected,  to  what  extent 
they  shall  be  able  to  assist.     Vol.  VI.,  p.  231. 

Sec.  V.     To  rewke  a  recommendation  when  thought  ex- 
pedient. 

Special  care  shall  be  exercised  by  Consistories  and 
Classes  in  recommending  young  men  to  the  Education 


8  DIGEST.  Ch.  Ill 

Fund  :  and  that  if  at  any  time  a  Consistory  or  Classis 
shall  become  convinced  of  the  unfitness  of  any  person 
recommended  by  them,  said  Consistory  or  Classis  are 
expected  to  revoke  their  recommendation  as  soon  as 
possible.    Vol.  V.,  p.  232  ;  Vol.  VI.,  p.  232. 

Sec.  VI.  Have  power  to  decide  on  the  validity  of  Rom- 
ish baptisin. 

Whereas,  the  right  of  receiving  members  into  the 
church  belongs  constitutionally  to  the  consistories 
therefore 

Resolved,  That  the  question  of  the  validity  of  Roman 
Catholic  baptism  be  left  to  the  different  consistories. 
Vol.  IV.,  p.  403. 

Sec.  VII.    Enjoined  to  present  to  Classes  annual  written 
and  particular  reports  on  the  state  of  religion  icithin 
their  hounds. 
Resolved,  That  it  be  enjoined  through  the  medium  of 
the  Particular  Synods  and  the  several  Classes,  upon  the 
several  Consistories,  to  present  annually  to;_their  re- 
spective Classes  a  statistical  account  of  their  congrega- 
tions, and  also  an  account  of  vital  religion  throughout 
their  sccieties.    Vol.  I.,  1809,  p.  23  ;  1814,  p.  74  ;  Vol. 
III.,  p.  45. 

Sec.  VIII.    Duty  in  regard  to  Sabbath  schools. 
It   is  recommended    to    the   several    ministers  and 
consistories  in  our  Church,  where  it  is  not  already  the 
case,  to  take  the  school  or  schools  formed  of  teachers 
and  scholars  belonging  to  their  churches  and  congrega- 
tions under  their  oversight  and  care.     Vol.  III.,  p.  278. 
&EC.  IX.     To  defray  the  expenses  of  their  ministers  and 
elders _  attending  the  judicatories  of  the  Church. 
Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  consistories 


Sec.  10.  CONSISTORIES.  9' 

that  they  defray  the  expenses  of  their  ministers  and 
elders,  who  attend  from  time  to  time  the  several  judi- 
catories of  the  Church.  Vol.  I.,  1797,  p.  14 ;  1814,  p. 
34 ;  1815,  p.  74. 

Sec.  X.     To  endeavor  to  obtain  an  interest  in  the  Wid- 
otcs'  fund  for  their  ministers. 

Synod,  desirous  that  all  their  ministers  may,  if  prac- 
1  cable,  become  interested  in  the  Widows'  Fund,  do 
Resolve,  that  in  cases  in  which  ministers  may  find  it  in- 
convenient themselves  to  become  subscribers  to  this 
Fund,  it  be  recommended  to  the  consistories  to  secure 
for  their  pastors  an  interest  therein,  by  subscribing  on 
their  behalf.     Vol.  V.,  pp.  191,  297 ;  Vol.  VI.,  p.  142. 

Sec.  XI.     To  sustatn   the  benevolent  operations  of  the 
Church. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  judgment  of  this  Synod  all  pas- 
tors and  consistories  are  under  solemn  obligation  to 
the  Church,  and  those  looking  to  her  for  aid,  to  carry 
out  faithfully,  and  in  the  most  efl&cient  way  practicable, 
the  arrangement  for  meeting  the  calls  of  our  benevolent 
operations. 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  highly  approve  and  com- 
mend to  the  churches,  as  one  of  the  most  efficient  means 
of  collecting  the  charities  of  the  Church,  the  plan  of  di- 
viding each  congregation  into  sections,  and  appointing 
persons  (both  males  and  females)  to  call  upon  every 
member  in  each  section,  periodically,  for  contributions 
to  benevolent  objects.     Vol.  VI.,  pp.  29,  30. 

Sec.  XII.     To  render  full  reports  of  membership  and 
contributions. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  enjoined  on  the  consistories  to 


10  DIGEST.  Oh.  IV 

render  full  reports  of  membership  and  contributions. 
Vol.  IX.,  p.  57. 

Sec.  XIII.     To  procure  all  2^uhlicaUons  of  the  Board  of 
PiiblicaUoii  for  Pastors'  libraries. 

Resoldcd,  That  this  Synod  recommend  to  each  con- 
sistory of  our  Church  to  procure  all  the  publications  of 
our  Board  of  Publication  *  *  *  to  be  placed  in 
the  pastor's  library  of  each  church,  and  to  remain  there 
as  the  property  of  the  church.     Vol.  IX,,  p.  240. 

Sec.  XIV.  When  there  is  no  settled  Pastor,  the  condst- 
ory  is  to  have  collections  ordered  hy  Synod  taken  up 
ill  the  church. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  *  *  *  every  con- 
sistory where  there  is  no  settled  pastor,  to  see  to  it  that 
the  collections  ordered  by  Synod  are  regularly  taken  up 
in  the  churches  under  their  care.     Vol.  XI.,  p.  504. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

GLASSES. 

Sec.  I.     To  hold  a  free  conversation  on  the  State  of  Re- 
ligion. 

Each  Classis  is  requested  to  hold,  at  its  stated  meet- 
ings, immediately  preceding  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
General  Synod,  a  free  conversation  on  the  state  of  relig- 
ion in  their  congregations ;  and  that  on  some  day  of 
such  meeting,  each  Classis,  as  such,  spend  one  hour  in 
special  prayer,  in  behalf  of  the  interests  of  vital  religion 
within  our  bounds.     June,  1820,  p.  58. 


Sec.  2.  CLASSES.  11 

Sec.  II.     Their  Committees  on  Gonmtorial  Minutes  may 
report  on  any  matters  demanding  Classical  action. 

According  to  the  Constitution,  it  is  the  duty  of  the 
Committee  on  Minutes  of  Consistories  to  report  for  cor- 
rection, adjudication,  or  advice,  all  matters  which  may 
demand  the  action  of  Classis.     Vol,  V.,  p.  506. 

Sec.  III.     On  the  reception  of  Ministers. 

1.  No  licentiate  nor  ordained  minister,  from  any  othr 
er  ecclesiastical  body,  shall  be  received  into  any  Classia 
until,  either  by  documentary  evidence  or  examination, 
they  shall  have  become  satisfied  of  his  competent  liter- 
ary qualifications  ;  nor  until  upon  examination,  in  the 
presence  of  a  deputatus,  they  shall  also  become  fully  sat- 
isfied of  his  competent  theological  attainments,  his  pie- 
ty, soundness  in  the  faith  and  ability  to  teach,  and  shall 
have  received  his  entire  assent  to  the  standards  of  our 
Church,  as  to  doctrine  and  discipline. 

3.  That  if  any  candidate  or  minister,  applying  for  ad» 
mission  into  any  Classis,  shall,  in  the  judgment  of  Clas- 
sis, have  sought  and  obtained  licensure  or  ordination 
from  any  ecclesiastical  organization  for  the  sake  of  an 
easier  admission  into  our  Church  than  upon  the  strict 
terms  enjoined  upon  our  own  students  at  New  Bruns- 
wick, it  shall  be  considered  a  disqualification,  to  be  re- 
moved only  by  a  dispensation  from  the  General  Synod. 

3.  No  licentiate  shall  be  received  as  a  candidate  un- 
der the  care  of  Classis,  or  be  privileged  to  minister  in, 
or  receive  a  call  from  our  churches,  unless  he  shall  have 
spent  the  same  amount  of  time  in  actual  attendance  on 
theological  instruction  that  is  required  from  our  own 
students ;  and  any  deficiency  in  this  respect  shall  be 
made  up  by  study  in  our  own  Seminary. 


13  DIGEST.  Gh.  IV 

4.  It  is  enjoined  on  tlie  Standing  Committee  (on  doc- 
trine) in  the  several  Classes,  Avlien  a  vacancy  occurs,  to 
send  to  sucL.  vacant  churcli,  immediately,  a  list  of  the 
licentiates  of  our  own  Seminary,  and  to  use  their  en- 
deavors to  procure  for  them  an  earl}-  hearing  ;  and  it  is 
recommended  to  the  consistories  of  our  churches,  in  all 
cases,  promptly  to  endeavor  to  obtain  their  services. 

5.  Whenever  a  church  becomes  vacant,  it  shall  be 
the  duty  of  the  Classis  to  exercise  guardianship  over  it^ 
and,  when  requested  by  the  consistory,  to  supply  it  as 
far  as  practicable  by  their  personal  services — thus  pre- 
venting the  disorganizing  influence  of  casual  and  indis- 
criminate ministrations  ;  and  to  maintain  such  a  super- 
vision over  it,  and  minister  such  aid  as  is  necessary 
to  carry  out  these  rules,  and  such  as  a  destitute  church 
is  entitled  to  claim  from  its  very  relations. 

6.  No  foreign  minister  shall  be  received  on  mere 
private  letters  of  introduction  or  recommendation  ;  but, 
in  all  cases,  full  ecclesiastical  certificates  shall  be  re- 
quired. 

7.  No  foreign  minister  shall  be  received  by  any  Clas- 
sis, unless  he  shall  have  undergone  a  probation  of  one 
year  under  the  care  of  a  Classis,  and  shall  then  present 
the  same  testimonials,  and  undergo  the  examination, 
required  by  the  first  of  these  rules. 

8.  These  rules  shall  be  inserted  in  some  conspicuous 
place  in  the  minute-books  of  the  respective  Classes. 
Vol  v.,  p.  387. 

Sec.  IV.  To  ajypoiut  Committees  to  guard  against  the 
introduction  of  unsound  doctrines.  Vol.  I.,  1815,  p. 
38  ;  Vol.  II.,  1824,  p.  47  ;  Vol.  IV.,  p.  293. 

Resolved,  That  in  conformity  to  the  design  of  Sec.  20, 
Art.  1.  Chap.  1.  of  the  Constitution,  it  is  the  duty  of 


Sec.  5.  CLASSES.  13 

every  Classis  to  a]^point  a  Standing  Committee,  for  the 
purpose  contemplated  in  that  section.  Vol.  IV.,  p 
293. 

Sec.  V.     To  require  reports  from    ministers  witJiout 
charge. 

It  is  enjoined  upon  the  several  Classes  to  require  of 
the  ministers  under  their  care  without  charges  to  ren- 
der an  account  annually,  at  the  ordinary  session  next 
preceding  the  meeting  of  General  Synod,  of  the  manner 
in  which  they  have  been  employed  the  preceding  year, 
in  order  that  their  doings  may  more  immediately  come 
under  the  review  of  Classis.     Vol.  V.,  p.  256. 

Sec.  VI.  To  take  measures  to  liave  the  ordinances  ad- 
ministered in  vacant  churches  tcithin  their  hounds. 
Vol.  I.,  1817,  p.  37. 

Sec.  VII.     Allowed  to  nominate  members  of  the  Board 
of  Superintendents. 

Resolved,  That  instead  of  a  Committee  of  Nomination, 
usually  appointed  by  Synod  previous  to  the  election  of 
the  Board  of  Superintendents,  to  designate  a  double 
number  from  each  Classis  oiit  of  which  the  election 
shall  be  made,  the  respective  Classes  themselves  shall 
have  the  right  to  nominate  to  General  Synod  the  repre- 
sentatives to  which  they  are  entitled  in  the  Board,  for 
confirmation  and  appointment  by  Synod.  Vol.  IV., 
p.  302. 

Sec.  VIII.  TIow  their  nominations  of  members  of  the 
Board  of  Superintendents  are  to  be  transmitted  to 


Resolved,  That  the  nominations  of  memliers  of  the 


14  DIGEST.  Ch.  IV 

Board  of  Superintendents  by  tlie  several  Classes,  be 
transmitted  to  tlie  General  Synod  by  letter  from  tbe 
Stated  Clerks  of  tlie  respective  Classes  to  the  Stated 
Clerk  of  the  General  Synod.     Vol.  IV.,  p.  422. 

Sec.  IX.  On  Statistical  Reports. 
Whereas,  it  is  important  that  the  statistical  reports 
from  our  churches  should  be  regularly  made  to  Synod  ; 
and,  whereas,  some  Classes  have  made  no  returns  at  all, 
and  many  churches  have  been  habitually  negligent  in 
making  full  returns  ;  therefore, 

1.  Resolved,  That  this  subject  be  earnestly  recom- 
mended to  the  attention  of  all  our  Classes  and  church- 
es. 

2.  That  whenever  any  of  the  churches  shall  be  delin- 
quent in  making  their  statistical  reports,  the  Classes  be 
advised  to  supply  such  neglect,  by  inserting  the  last 
report  from  said  churches,  and  add  a  note  of  explanation 
of  this  fact. 

3.  That  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  several  Classes  be 
directed  to  send  annually,  a  copy  of  their  statistical  re- 
ports to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  General  Synod.  Vol.  III., 
p.  183. 

Sec.  X.  Have  jjoicer  to  decide  on  the  validity  of  Romish 
ordination. 

Whereas,  the  right  of  ordaining  the  ministry  of  the 
gospel  belongs  to  the  Classes  of  the  Church  ;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  question  of  the  validity  of 
Roman  Catholic  ordination  be  left  to  the  diflferent  Clas- 
ses.   Vol.  IV.,  p.  403. 

Sec.  XI.    Not  entitled  to  rej^resentatioii  t?2  General  Sy- 
nod, until  regularly  organized. 
No  Classis  shall  be  considered  as  entitled  to  a  re^e- 


Ssc.  12.  CLASSES.  15 

sentation  in  General  Synod,  until  the  same  shall  have 
been  ref^ularly  organized  according  to  the  usual  order, 
and  the  evidence  of  its  organization  shall  have  been  re- 
corded on  the  minutes  of  the  Particular  Synod.  Vol. 
IV.,  p.  332. 

Sec.  XII.     JVot  to  dissolve  the  j)(i><toral  relation  on  the 
ground  of  exj)ediency . 

Resohed,  That  the  resolution  passed  in  General  Sy- 
nod in  1806,  authorizing  Classes  to  dissolve  the  connec- 
tion between  ministers  and  their  congregations,  on  the 
principle  of  expediency,  though  one  of  the  parties  be 
averse  to  such  dissolution,  be  repealed  ;  because  uncon- 
stitutional and  of  an  evil  tendency,  calculated  to  foster 
strife  in  congregations,  to  encourage  worldly  minded 
professors,  to  excite  animosities  in  a  church  against  min- 
isters, and  repugnant  to  the  practice  of  the  Reformed 
Church  in  all  ages.     Vol.  I.,  1809,  p.  18. 

Sec.  XIII.     May  dismiss  a  member  to  an  ecchnasticaZ 
hody  not  in  connection  with  the  Ueformed  Chvrch. 

The  inquiry  whether  it  be  proper  for  Classis  to  give 
an  ordained  minister  in  our  Church  a  dismission,  to  join 
another  Church  or  ecclesiastical  body  with  which  the 
Reformed  Church  has  no  ecclesiastical  intercourse 
or  connection,  was  answered  in  the  affirmative.  Vol. 
IV.,  p.  332. 

Sec.  XIV.     To  keep  a  lemma,  entitled  "  Education." 

Resolved,  That  the  several  Classes  be  requested  to 
place  upon  their  order  of  business  a  lemma,  entitled 
**  Education,"  under  which  inquiries  shall  be  instituted 
of  each  minister  and  elder,  as  to  what  has  been  done  for 
the  cause  of  education,  and  whether  there  are  any  young 


16  DIGEST.  Ch.  IV 

men  witliin  their  bounds  inclined  to  the  ministry,  and 
what  means  have  been  taken  to  brino^  the  subject  be- 
fore them.    Vol.  IV.,  p.  504. 

Sec.  XV.     To  keep  a  lemma,  called  "  Benevolent  Insti- 
tutions." 

Resolved,  That  the  different  Classes  be  directed  to 
have  a  lemma,  called  "  Benevolent  Institutions  ;"  and 
that  at  every  annual  meeting  of  the  Classes,  each  min- 
ister and  elder  shall  be  interrogated  whether  they  have 
taken  up  the  several  collections  recommended  by  Gen- 
eral Synod,  and  make  a  record  of  the  same.  Vol.  VI., 
p.  510.     See,  also,  Vol.  I.,  1813,  p.  30. 

Sec.  XVI.     To  make  special  inquiry  in  relation  to  bejie- 
ficiaries  recommended  by  them. 

Resolved,  That  in  all  future  applications  for  recom- 
mendations of  beneficiaries,  a  mere  exranination  of  cre- 
dentials be  not  deemed  sufficient,  and  that  the  respect- 
ive Classes  be  directed  to  inquire  carefully  for  them- 
selves into  the  talents  and  acquirements  of  the  applicant, 
and  the  prospect  of  his  becoming  an  acceptable  and  use- 
ful servant  in  the  vineyard  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  Vol 
II.,  182-1,  p.  54  ;  Vol.  III.,  p.  874;  Vol.  VI.,  p.  232. 

Sec.  XVII.  To  inquire  in  relation  to  indigent  young 
men  desirous  of  entering  the  ministry  within  their 
hounds. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  made  the  duty  of  each  Classis  to 
inquire,  at  least  once  in  every  year,  from  the  several 
ministers  and  elders  composing  such  Classis,  whether 
they  know  of  any  one  or  more  persons  of  piety  and 
promising  talents,  disposed  to  devote  themselves  to  the 
work  of  the  ministry,  and  who,  being  in   indigent  cir- 


,  Sec.  18.  CLASSES.  17 

cumstances,  need  pecuniary  assistance   in  yjrosecutinjy 
tlieological  studies.     Vol.  II.,  Sept.  1825,  p.  31. 

Sec.  XVIII.     To  comply  icith  tlie  Constitution  in  rela- 
to  the  presence  of  Deputati  at  examinations. 

Resolved,  Tliat  the  several  Classes  be  directed  to  yield 
a  strict  compliance  to  tlie  rule  of  the  Constitution  in  re- 
lation to  the  presence  of  a  deputatus  at  examinations. 
Vol.  v.,  p.  58. 

Sec.  XIX.     To  give  special  attention  to  the  caiechelical 
instruction  of  the  young. 

Whereas,  it  appears  from  the  statistical  tables  of  the 
different  Classes,  that  catechetical  instruction  is  jjfreatly 
neglected  in  certain  sections  of  the  Church,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  different  Classes  be  directed  to 
give  their  special  attention  to  this  subject,  so  that,  as 
far  as  possible,  the  Touth  in  all  our  congregations  may 
enjoy  the  benefit  of  jmstoral  catechetical  instruction,  ac- 
cording to  the  provisions  of  the  standards  of  our  Church. 
Vol.  v.,  pp.  59,  60. 

Sec.  XX.     To  become  responsible  for  beneficiaHes  o'ecom- 
mended  by  them. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  any  Classis 
which  may  desire  to  aid  a  young  man  in  his  education 
for  the  gospel  ministry,  to  assume  the  responsibility  of 
his  support,  when  it  is  at  all  practicable  to  do  so.  Vol 
VI.,  p.  231. 

Sec.  XXI.     Classis  of  Arcot  may  be  represented  by  letter. 

Resolved,  That  the  Classis  of  Arcot,  in  India,  be  au- 
thorized to  represent  themselves  annually  in  this  Gen- 
eral Synod  by  letter.     Vol.  VITI.,  p.  609. 


18  DIGEST.  Ch.  IV, 

Sec.  XXII.     Classis  may  exirress  to  Synod  its  xieics  on 
acts  of  Synod. 

Resolved,Tha.t  the  Synod  recognizes  the  unquestiona- 
ble right  of  every  Classis  to  express  to  the  Synod  its 
views  of  the  feasibility  and  desirableness  of  every  plan 
of  Church  action  which  the  Synod  may  have  adopted. 
Vol.  IX.,  p.  39. 

Sec.  XXIII.  Wot  to  examine  students  for  licensure  dur- 
ing the  iceek  of  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Super- 
intendents. 

Resolved,  That  the  Synod  request  the  various  Classes 
not  to  hold  their  special  sessions  for  the  examination 
of  students  for  licensure  during  the  week  in  which  the 
Board  of  Superintendents  holds  its  annual  session. 
Vol.  IX.,  p.  104. 

Sec.  XXIV.     Reports  on  state  of  religion  to  contain  a 
synopsis  of  statements  of  consistories. 

Resolved,  That  the  several  Classes  *  *  be  re- 
quested to  make  their  reports  upon  the  state  of  religion 
include,  as  far  as  possible,  a  synojjsis  of  the  statements 
of  the  individual  consistories.     Vol.  IX.,  p.  154. 

Sec.  XXV.     To  furnish  consistories  blank  forms  for  sta- 
tistical reports.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  154. 

Sec.  XXVI.  To  arrange  for  collection  and  ptrompt  pay- 
ment of  apportionment  for  contingent  expenses  of 
Synod. 

Resolved,  That  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  each  Classis  to 
arrange  for  the  collection  and  payment  of  the  same  {i.e. 
this  apportionment)  by  its  Qiiestor  at  its  stated  fall  or 
spring  session,  and  to  see  that  the  amount  so  collected 


Sec.  27.  CLASSES.  19 

shall  be  punctually  paid  to  the  Treasure!-  of  General 
Synod.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  212. 

Sec.  XXVII.     Stated  Clerks  to  report  P.  0.  addresses  of 
ministers  idtliovt  cliarge. 

BesoUed,  That  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  several  Clas- 
ses be  directed  to  send  up  in  their  Statistical  Reports 
the  Post  Office  addresses  of  the  members  wHhout  pas- 
toral charge.     Vol.  IX.,  p.  581. 

Sec.  XXVIII.     To  take  steps  to  Jiave  the  daims  of  all  the, 
Boards  presented  to  their  churches. 

Resolved,  That  the  Classes  be  urged  to  take  such  steps 
as  shall  insure  that  the  claims  of  all  our  Boards  be 
statedly  presented  to  each  of  the  churches  under  their 
care,  and  collections  taken  for  them. 

Mesolved,  That  the  several  Classes  be  and  are  hereby 
requested  to  suggest  to  their  churches  to  prepare  a  pro- 
gramme of  the  different  objects  of  benevolence  as  re- 
commended by  the  General  Synod,  and  specify  and 
adopt  as  a  standing  rule,  certain  Sabbaths  Avlien  these 
contributions  shall  be  annually  made.     Vol.  X,,  p.  212. 

Sec.  XXIX.     To    report  names    of   ministers    icithout 
charge,  irith  certain  notes. 

Resolved,  That  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  different  Clas- 
ses be  enjoined  to  pay  special  attention  to  this  matter  in 
their  reports,  and  to  append  to  such  reports  the  names 
ot  all  ministers  within  their  bounds,  not  only  such  as 
have  charges,  but  also  such  as  have  none,  and  that  they 
append  also  short  but  expressive  notes  to  their  respect- 
ive name  designating  the  positions  they  hold,  the  oc- 
cupations they  pursue,  and  the  reasons  of  their  being 
without  a  pastoral  charge.     Vol.  XI.,  j).  83. 


20  DIGEST.  Ch.  1 V 

6ec.  XXX.    May  receive  churcheH  allowing  them  to  retain 
the  Scottish  version  of  the  Psalmody. 

Whereas,  These  churches  are  prevented  from  casting 
in  their  lot  with  us  by  reason  of  a  partiality  for  the 
Psalmody  peculiar  to  them  ;  and, 

Whereas,  This  Synod  is  assured  of  the  doctrinal  cor  - 
rectness  and  devotional  spirit  of  their  Psalmody  ;  there- 
fore, 

Resolved,  That  in  such  cases,  when  such  churches 
make  applicr.tion  to  be  received  under  the  care  of  a 
Classis  of  our  Church,  the  said  churches  be  allowed  to 
retain  the  Psalmody,  called  the  Scottish  version,  in  use 
among  them  at  their  discretion.     Vol.  XI.,  p.  84. 


Sec.  XXXI.  To  exercise  care  in  recommending  churches 
to  tJie  Board  of  Domestic  Missions.  Vol.  XL,  p. 
105. 

Sec.  XXXII.  To  have  the  Van  Benschoten  Bequest  read 
in  full. 

That  the  reading  of  the  said  bequest  by  "the  title"  does 
not  meet  the  desire  of  the  donor,  and  the  faith  which  the 
Church  plighted  to  him  by  the  acceptance  of  it  on  his 
terms,  as  appears  from  the  terms  of  the  document,  and 
has  been  admitted  by  the  long-established  custom  of 
our  Church  ;  and  further,  that  it  bo  and  is  hereby  en- 
joined upon  all  the  Classes  and  Synods  to  attend  care- 
fully to  the  reading  of  the  Van  Benschoten  bequest  at 
all  their  ordinary  meetings.    Vol.  XI.,  p.  459. 

Sec.  XXXIII.     To  provide  at  fall  session  for  paym,ent 
for  Minute i  of  Synod. 

Resolved,  That  the  Classes  be  directed  to  provide  at 
their  fall  sessions  for  the  payment  for  the  Minutes  of 


Sec.  34.  SYNODS.  31 

the  General  Synod,  and  to  place  the  funds  in  the  hands 
of  their  respective  Questors,  so  that  they  may  be  paid 
over  to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  General  Synod  before  each 
annual  session.     Vol.  XL,  p.  499. 

Sec.  XXXIV.     To  endeavor  to  secure  a  due  share  of 
church  contributions  for  our  own  Boards. 

Resolved,  That  Synod  affi>ctionately  call  the  attention 
of  our  Classes  to  the  small  proportion  of  benevolent 
contributions  given  to  our  own  Boards,  as  compared 
with  the  gross  amount  reported,  and  request  them  to 
use  their  influence  as  may  seem  to  them  best  adapted  to 
secure  a  change  in  this  respect.     Vol.  XI.,  p.  505. 

Sec.  XXXV.     To  sjiefid  one  hour  at  every  regular  meet- 
ing in  prayer  and  conference  on  benevolence. 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  aflf'ectionately  and  earnest- 
ly request  each  Classis  at  every  regular  meeting  to  give 
at  least  one  hour  to  fraternal  conference  and  prayer 
with  reference  to  the  benevolent  operations  of  the 
Church,  that  they  may  provoke  one  another  to  good 
works.     Vol.  XI.,  p.  505. 

CHAPTER  V. 
SYNODS. 

A.   GENERAL   SYXODS. 

Sec.  I.  Rules  of  Order 

1.  At  every  stated  meeting  of  the  Synod,  a  sermon 
shall  be  preached  by  the  last  President,  either  before 
his  opening  the  session  with  prayer,  or  at  some  time  af- 
terward, which  the  Synod  shall  deem  most  convenient. 


23  DIGEST.  Gh.  V 

If  the  last  President  and  the  Adsessor  be  absent,  the 
oldest  minister  present  shall  take  his  place  and  perform 
the  above  duties. 

2.  The  President  and  Adsessor  shall  be  elected  by 
"ballot,  by  a  majority  of  the  members  present ;  and  if 
after  the  first  vote  there  is  no  election,  the  choice  shall 
be  made  from  the  two  who  have  the  highest  number  of 
votes.     Tlie  clerks  shall  be  elected  by  plurality. 

3.  The  duties  of  the  President  shall  be  to  take  the 
chair  at  the  hour  to  which  the  Synod  stands  adjourned ; 
to  open  and  conclude  Avith  prayer ;  to  direct  the  Clerk 
immediately  after  a  quorum  has  appeared  to  call  the 
roll ;  to  censure  absentees  when  their  absence  shall  be 
judged  not  to  have  been  necessary  ;  to  propound  the 
subjects  for  deliberation  ;  to  confine  speakers  to  the 
point,  and  to  save  them  from  unnecessary  interruption  ; 
to  st&te  and  put  the  question,  when  the  members  are 
prepared  to  vote  ;  to  prevent  members  from  leaving  the 
Synod  without  permission  ;  to  decide  questions  of  order, 
subject,  however,  to  an  appeal  to  the  house  by  any  two 
members ;  to  give  the  casting  vote  in  all  equal  divis- 
ions ;  and,  in  general,  to  maintain  the  order  and  dignity 
becoming  the  judicatory  of  the  Church  of  Christ. 

4.  After  calling  the  roll,  the  minutes  of  the  last  sit- 
ting shall  be  read,  and  considered  as  open  to  correction. 
The  business  on  the  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  or  sit- 
ting, shall,  without  powerful  reasons,  be  taken  up  and 
concluded  first,  in  the  order  in  which  it  stands,  before 
any  new  business  be  introduced. 

5.  A  motion  made  must  be  seconded,  and  aftewards 
repeated,  or  read  aloud  from  the  Chair,  before  it  is  de- 
bated ;  and  every  motion,  except  a  motion  for  adjourn- 
ment, shall  be  reduced  to  Nvriting  if  any  member  require 
it. 


Sec.  1.  SYNODS.  23 

6.  An  amendment  may  be  made  on  any  motion,  and 
it  sliall  be  decided  before  the  original  motion.  It  may 
be,  in  its  turn,  suspended  by  an  amendment  to  itself", 
wliicli  must  first  be  considered  and  decided.  But  no  ad- 
ditional amendment  to  an  original  motion  can  be  re- 
ceived until  the  previous  one  lias  been  disposed  of. 

7.  When  a  question  is  under  debate,  no  motion  shall 
be  received  except  to  adjourn,  to  lay  on  the  table,  to 
postpone  indefinitely,  to  postpone  to  a  certain  time,  to 
commit  to  a  standing  committee,  to  a  select  one,  or  to 
the  committee  of  the  whole ;  to  amend,  or  for  the  pre- 
vious question,  which  motions  shall  have  precedence  in 
the  order  stated. 

8.  When  the  previous  question  is  moved  and  second- 
ed, it  sJiall  be  in  this  form  :  "  Sliall  the  main  question 
be  now  put  V"  and  until  it  be  decided  all  amendments 
and  debate  shall  be  inadmissible.  If  the  vote  be  in  the 
affirmative,  the  original  motion  shall  be  immediately 
put  without  further  amendment  or  debate.  But  if 
there  be  an  amendment  or  amendments  pending  at  the 
time,  the  question  shall  first  be  taken  on  such  amend- 
ment or  amendments  in  their  proper  order  without  de- 
bate. If  the  vote  be  in  the  negative  the  debate  shall 
continue  as  before. 

9.  A  question  shall  not  be  called  up  or  reconsidered 
at  the  same  session  of  the  Synod  at  which  it  was  de- 
cided, unless  by  consent  of  two-thirds  of  the  members 
present. 

10.  No  member  shall  be  allowed  to  protest  against 
any  of  the  acts  of  the  Synod  ;  but  any  member  who 
dissents  from  any  such  acts  shall  have  a  right  to  require 
the  names  of  all  the  members  present,  who  vote  for  or 
against  the  same,  to  be  entered  in  the  minutes,  and 
published  therewith  for  the  information  of  all  concern- 


24  DIGEST.  Ch.  V 

ed.  In  other  cases,  the  yeas  and  nays  shall  not  be  re- 
corded unless  on  the  demand  of  one-fifth  of  the  members 
present. 

11.  The  mover  and  seconder  of  a  motion  may  with- 
draw it  before  debate  has  commenced  on  it,  but  not 
afterwards,  unless  by  leave  of  Synod. 

13.  In  filling  blanks,  when  various  motions  are  made, 
the  vote  shall  always  be  first  on  the  highest  number 
and  longest  time. 

13.  Every  member  shall  rise  and  address  himself  to 
the  President  only,  closely  attending  to  the  subject  in 
debate,  avoiding  all  personal  reflections  ;  and  no  mem- 
ber, without  the  special  permission  of  the  Synod,  shall 
speak  more  than  twice  on  the  same  subject.  When  two 
or  more  members  rise  to  speak  at  the  same  time,  the 
President  shall  determine  who  of  them  shall  be  heard 
first. 

14.  After  the  President  has  begun  to  take  the  vote, 
or  the  Clerk  to  call  the  roll  on  a  division  of  the  house, 
no  debate  nor  remark  shall  be  allowed. 

15.  A  motion  to  adjourn  or  to  lay  on  the  table,  and 
all  motions  in  relation  to  priority  of  business,  shall  be 
decided  without  debate.  The  motion  to  postpone  or  to 
commit  shall  preclude  all  debate  of  the  main  question. 

16.  When  an  appcd  is  taken  from  a  decision  of  the 
Chair  on  a  point  of  order,  the  President  shall  have  the 
right  to  explain  the  grounds  of  his  decision,  but  the  ap- 
peal shall  be  decided  by  the  house  without  debate. 

17.  No  member  shall  leave  the  Synod  to  return  home  or 
for  other  business  without  their  consent ;  nor  shall 
members,  without  express  permission,  engage  in 
private  conversation,  go  from  or  change  their  seats  dur- 
ing the  transaction  of  business  ;  interrupt  another  when 
he  is  speaking,  except  he  be  out  of  order,  or  to  correct 


Sec.  I.  SYNODS.  25 

mistakes  and  misrepresentations  ;  and  if  any  member 
act  indecently  or  disorderly,  contrary  to  these  rules,  the 
President  shall  reprove  or  otherwise  censure  him,  as 
the  Synod  shall  judge  proper  ;  the  member  still  having 
the  privilege,  if  he  think  himself  denied  of  any  right  or 
unjustly  blamed  by  the  President,  of  respectfully  and 
modestly  requiring  the  decision  of  the  house  in  the 
case. 

18.  All  the  sittings  of  General  Synod  shall  be  con- 
cluded by  regular  adjournment  and  prayer. 

19.  At  the  close  of  every  session  of  General  Synod  the 
roll  shall  be  called,  and  the  names  of  those  who  are  ab- 
sent without  permission  shall  be  recorded. 

20.  Standing  Committees  : 

(1.)  Professorate. 

(2.)  Overtures. 

(3.)  Synodical  Minutes. 

(4.)  Domestic  Missions. 

(5.)  Foreign  Missions. 

(6.)  State  of  Religion. 

(7.)  Education. 

(8.)  Judicial  Business. 

(9.)  Widows'  and  Disabled  Ministers'  Funds. 
(10.)  Publication. 
(11.)  Nominations. 
(12.)  Correspondence. 
(18.)  Accounts. 
(14.)  Leave  of  Absence. 

21.  All  distinctive  titles  or  appendages  to  the  names 
of  members  of  Synod  shall  be  omitted  in  recording  the 
minutes  of  this  Synod ;  said  distinctive  titles  being  pre- 
fixed or  appended  to  the  name  of  the  member  in  the 
list  of  members  constituting  the  Synod. 


26  DIGEST.  Ch.V 

22.  Primarii  and  Secundi  : 

(t.)  When  a  Primarius  shall  find  it  impracticable  to 
attend  the  judicatory  to  which  he  is  delegated,  that 
then  it  shall  be  his  duty  as  soon  as  may  be,  to  notify  a 
Secundus,  and  that  when  he  shall  take  his  seat,  it  shall 
not  be  vacated  to  give  place  to  the  Primarius, 

(2.)  At  the  commencement  of  the  session,  the  mem- 
bers delegated,  whether  Primarii  or  Secundi,  shall  be 
recognized  and  recorded,  but  when  the  Primarius  shall 
appear  at  any  subsequent  period  of  the  session,  then  the 
Primarius  shall  take  the  seat  of  the  Secundus,  and  the 
Secundus  shall  not  be  considered  a  member  again,  un- 
less by  the  request  of  the  Primarius,  and  express  per- 
mission obtained  by  the  Synod. 

23.  Judicial  Business  : 

(1.)  Any  appeal,  complaint,  or  other  judicial  business, 
which  shall  be  presented  or  reported  to  the  Synod,  shall 
be  first  referred,  with  all  the  papers  and  documents  ap- 
pertaining thereto,  to  the  Committee  on  Judicial  Busi 
ness,  who  shall  inquire  whether  the  same  has  been  reg- 
ularly brought  before  the  Synod,  and  whether  all  the 
constitutional  steps  in  the  case  have  been  taken,  and,  if 
the  same  shall  be  found  in  order,  they  shall  digest  and 
arrange  all  the  papers  and  documents  connected  there- 
with, that  the  subsequent  proceedings  in  the  case  be- 
fore the  Synod  may  be  regular  and  systematic ;  pro- 
vided, nevertheless,  that  the  said  committee  shall  be  re- 
quired to  report  upon  every  matter  that  may  be  refer- 
red to  them, 

(2 )  Whenever  any  case  thus  reported  shall  be  taken 
up  for  trial,  the  President  shall  solemnly  announce  from 
the  Chair  that  the  Synod  is  about  to  proceed  to  the  con- 
sideration of  judicial  business,  and  enjoin  on  the  mem- 
bers to  recollect  and  regard  their  character  as  judges  of 


Sec.  1.  SYNODS.  37 

the  highest  court  of  Jesus  Christ  on  earth,  known  to 
the  Conslitution  of  tlie  iiefonned  Church ;  after 
which  it  shall  not  be  in  order,  during  the  pending  of 
such  trial,  to  transact  any  legislative  business  bearing 
on  the  case. 

(3.)  In  recording  their  decision,  it  shall  be  the  duty 
of  the  court  who  have  tried  any  j  udicial  business  in  the 
original  case,  or  by  appeal,  to  set  forth  at  length  the 
reasons  thereof,  that  the  record  may  exhibit,  as  far  as 
practicable,  every  thing  that  had  an  influence  on  their 
judgment ;  a  certified  copy  of  which,  with  the  act  of 
proceeding  appealed  from,  shall  be  sent  up  by  them  to 
the  court  to  whom  the  appeal  may  be  taken.  Such  in- 
ferior court  shall  also  be  permitted  to  send  a  commis- 
sioner to  the  Synod,  for  the  purpose  of  making  any  ex- 
planation relative  to  said  case,  it  being  expressly  under- 
stood that  in  every  case  the  original  parties  be  not  lost 
sight  of  in  any  stage  of  trial. 

(4.)  In  taking  up  an  appeal,  after  having  ascertained 
that  the  appellant  has  conducted  it  regularly,  the  fol- 
lowing shall  be  the  order  of  trial : 

[1.]  The  sentence  appealed  from  shall  be  read. 

[2.]  The  appeal  and  reasons  of  appeal  sliall  be  read. 

[3.]  All  the  documents  in  the  case  shall  be  read,  in 
the  order  prescribed  by  the  Committee  on  Judicial  Bus- 
iness. 

[4.]  The  original  parties  shall  be  heard,  commencing 
with  the  appellant. 

[5.]  The  commissioner  of  the  inferior  j  udicatory  which 
has  tried  the  appeal  may  be  heard  in  explanation  of  the 
grounds  of  their  decision,  and  of  the  manner  of  their 
proceeding  in  the  case. 

[G.]  The  appellant  may  be  heard  in  reply. 

{5.)  After  all  ])arties  shall  have  been  fully  heard,  and 


28  DIGEST.  Ch.  V 

all  the  information  gained  by  the  Synod  which  shall  be 
deemed  necessary,  the  parties  shall  withdraw,  when 
the  roll  shall  be  called,  that  every  member  may  have 
an  opportunity  to  express  his  opinion  on  the  case,  after 
which  the  final  vote  may  be  taken. 

(6.)  The  decision  may  be  either  to  confirm  or  reverse, 
in  whole  or  in  part,  the  judgment  of  the  inferior  judi- 
catory, or  to  remit  the  cause  with  instructions  or  for  Or 
new  trial. 

(7.)  In  the  trial  of  all  judicial  business  brought  before 
the  Synod,  by  complaint  or  reference,  the  same  order  of 
proceeding  shall  be  observed,  as  far  as  practicable,  as  in 
cases  of  appeal,  but  no  complaint  shall  be  entertained 
unless  notice  of  the  same  shall  have  been  given  before 
the  rising  of  the  judicatory  whose  act  is  complained  of, 
or  within  ten  days  thereafter. 

24.  Religious  Exercises : 

(1.)  The  afternoon  of  the  first  day  shall  be  devoted  to 
exercises  of  prayer  and  praise. 

(2.)  The  first  half  hour  of  each  subsequent  morning 
session  shall  be  so  spent  after  the  reading  of  the  min- 
utes. 

(3.)  The  Lord's  Supper  shall  be  observed  on  the  after- 
noon of  the  second  day. 

(4.)  A  sermon  in  behalf  of  the  benevolent  operations 
of  the  Church  shall  be  preached  on  the  evening  of  the 
sixth  day  of  the  session. 

25.  The  morning  of  the  third  day  of  the  session  shall 
be  devoted  to  the  purpose  of  hearing  from  the  Secre- 
taries of  our  various  Boards  such  oral  statements  as  they 
shall  see  fit  to  make  ;  after  which,  an  opportunity  shall 
be  afforded  for  a  free  interchange  of  opinion  and  feel- 
ing among  the  members  of  the  Synod  in  regard  to  the 
benevolent  operations  of  the  Church. 


Sec.  2.  SYNODS.  29 

26.  A  rule  of  order  may  be  suspended  for  tlie  time  by 
unanimous  consent. 

27.  These  rules  (except  22,  23,  24,  and  25)  shall  be 
read  at  the  opening  of  each  General  Synod. 

Sec.  II.    Its  powers  at  a  special  meeting. 

The  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church,  when 
convened  in  special  session  by  the  call  of  the  President, 
has  full  power  and  authority  to  transact  generally  any 
business  within  the  ordinary  limits  of  its  constitutional 
power,  whether  specified  in  the  call  or  not.  Vol.  IV., 
p.  9. 

The  same  point  was  decided  in  the  same  way  in  1804. 
(p.  5.) 

Sec.  III.    Mcpe7ises  of  Delegates  to  Synod  to  he  paid. 

In  order  to  avoid  disappointments  originating  from 
pecuniary  considerations,  it  is  recommended  to  the  Par- 
ticular Synods  to  enjoin  it  on  their  respective  Classes, 
to  make  suitable  provision  for  defraying  the  expenses 
of  their  delegates.  Vol.  I.,  1809,  p.  17.  But  see  1815, 
p.  74. 

Sec.  IV.     Credentials  of  Delegates. 

Resolved,  That  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  several  Par- 
ticular Synods  be  and  are  hereby  instructed  to  send  the 
credentials  of  delegates  to  the  General  Synod  to  the 
said  delegates,  immediately  upon  their  election,  and  also 
to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  General  Synod.  Vol.  XI.,  p. 
499. 

Sec.  V.    Directions  with  reference  to  Minutes  of  Synod. 

Resolved,  That  the  Annual  Reports  of  the  several  Clas 
ses  be  this  year  and  hereafter  arranged  in  alphabetical 


30  DIGEST.  Oh.  V 

order,  with  a  view  to  greater  facility  of  reference  ;  and 
that  the  initials  of  the  Particular  Synods  to  which  they 
respectively  belong  be  annexed. 

Resolved,  That  there  be  published  in  the  minutes  of 
this  Synod,  this  year  and  hereafter,  the  following  : 

1.  The  order  of  the  Lemmata,  to  each  of  which  shall 
be  annexed  a  reference  to  the  page  of  the  minutes  on 
which  it  may  be  found. 

2.  A  list  of  the  names  of  all  who  from  the  first  shall 
have  occupied  the  office  of  President  of  this  Synod,  and 
likewise  a  list  of  all  who  shall  have  occupied  the  office 
of  Stated  Clerk  ;  and  that  the  names  of  all,  respectively, 
be  preceded  by  the  year  of  their  election,  and  followed 
by  the  name  of  the  State  in  which  they  reside,  and  of 
the  place  in  which  the  meeting  was  held. 

.3.  An  alphabetical  list  of  all  our  ministers,  with  their 
respective  places  of  residence,  or  post  office  addresses,  an 
nexed,  together  with  a  reference  to  the  page  of  the  Min- 
utes of  Synod  upon  which  each  name  may  be  found  in 
the  Classical  Report.     Vol.  X..  p.  208. 

Sec.  VI.    Stated  clerks  to  have  charge  of  accounts  for 
the  minutes. 

Besolved,  That  the  accounts  for  the  Minutes  of  the 
General  Synod  be  transferred  from  the  Treasurer  to  the 
Stated  Clerk,  and  that  he  furnish  the  usual  item  on  that 
subject  for  the  "Annual  Digest." 

Sec.  VII.     Salary  of  Treasurer. 

Mesolved,  That  the  salary  of  the  Treasurer  of  General 
Synod  shall  be  $1,000. 

In  view  of  the  fact  that  the  management  of  the  Wid- 
ows' Fund  involves  a  much  larger  amount  of  labor  than 
any  other  of  the  funds  of  Synod ; 


Sec.  8.  SYNODS.  31 

Resolved,  That  of  the  salary  of  the  Treasurer,  $250 
shall  be  paid  from  the  Widows'  Fund,  and  the  remain- 
der apportioned  among  the  other  funds. 

Sec.  VIII.    Permanent  Clerk  app&inted. 

Resolved,  That  the  office  of  Permanent  Clerk  be  re- 
stored, and  that  the  division  of  labor  be  arranged  be- 
tween this  officer  and  the  Stated  Olerk. 

Resolved,  That  the  Permanent  Clerk  be  allowed  a 
salary  of  fifty  dollars  per  annum,  and  that  his  necessary 
expenses  while  attending  the  meetings  of  General  Synod 
be  paid.     Vol.  XL,  p.  GG3. 

B.  PARTICULAR  SYNODS.    (See  also  Appendix.) 
Sec.  I.     To  administer  Lord's  Supper  at  their  meetings. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Particular 
Synods  to  connect  with  their  services  the  administration 
of  the  Lord's  Supper.     Vol.  VIIL,  p.  420. 

Sec.  II.    Anniversaries  to  he  connected  with  them. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  several 
bodies  of  our  Church,  so  to  arrange  their  anniversary 
celebrations  as  to  hold  them  during  and  in  connection 
with  the  regular  meetings  of  one  or  more  of  the  Partic- 
ular Synods  of  our  Church. 

Sec.  hi.     To  send  transcripts  of  aaswei's  to  second  and 
third  constitutional  questions. 

Resolved,  That  the  Particular  Synod  be  directed  to 
send  up  to  General  Synod  a  transcript  of  the  Classical 
records  in  regard  to  the  answers  to  the  second  and  third 
constitutional  questions  proposed  at  the  spring  session  of 
each  Classis.    Vol.  VIIL,  p.  420. 


32  DIGEST.  Gh.V 

Sec.  IV.     To  embody  in  reports  on  State  of  Religion  ex- 
tracts from  the  minutes  of  Classis. 

Besolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  Particular 
Synods,  in  preparing  their  reports  on  the  State  of  relig- 
ion, to  embody  in  them,  as  far  as  possible,  an  extract 
from  the  minutes  of  each  Classis,  embracing  a  compara- 
tive statement  of  the  state  of  religion  in  their  bounds, 
as  materials  out  of  which  the  General  Synod  may  form 
a  more  accurate  estimate  of  the  condition  of  the  whole 
Church.     Vol.  VIII.,  p.  542. 

Sec.  V.    Particular  Synod  of  Chicago  organized. 

Ordered  by  General  Synod  and  Committee  appointed 
June,  1856.  Committee  reported  the  organization  ef- 
fected September  3,  1856.  Their  report  was  accepted 
and  adopted  June,  1857.     Vol.  IX.,  pp.  91  and  133. 

Sec.  VI.     To  furnish  Classes  icith  blank  forms  for  sta- 
tistical reports.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  154. 

Sec.  VII.     To  insert  in  their  Minutes  a  tabular  summary 
of  statistics.^ 

Resolved,  That  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  Particular 
Synods  be  requested  to  prepare,  and  insert  in  their 
printed  Minutes,  a  tabular  summary  of  the  statistical 
tables  of  their  respective  Synods.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  298. 

Sec.  VIII.     Eastern  Synods  to  visit  the  Western  by  dele- 
gates. 

Resolved,  That  the  visitation  of  the  Particular  Synod 
of  the  West  by  delegates  from  the  Particular  Synods  of 
the  East  meets  with  the  decided  approval  of  this  body, 
Vol.  X.,  p.  348. 


Sec.  9.  BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  33 

Sec.  IX.     Recommended  to  extend  the  time  of  their  meet- 
ings and  make  some  other  changes. 

Besolved,  That  it  be  earnestly  recommended  to  the 
Particular  Synods  that  they  extend  the  time  of  their 
meetings ;  that  they  cease  to  refer  to  General  Synod 
matters  which  could  be  as  well,  and  perhaps,  on  some 
accounts,  better  dealt  with  by  themselves ;  that  they 
abound  more  in  devotional  exercises,  and  that  they  en- 
deavor to  inaugurate  measures  which,  through  the  bles- 
sing of  God,  may  increase  the  spirituality  and  useful- 
ness of  pastors,  elders,  and  church  members.  Vol.  XL, 
p.  83. 

Sec.  X.     To  send  annually  at  least  ten  copies  of  Minutes 
to  General  Synod.    Vol.  HI.,  p.  77. 

Sec.  XI.    Particular  Synod  of  New  Brunswick — Com- 
mittee appointed  to  organize.    Vol.  XI.,  p.  631. 

CHAPTER  VI. 
BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

A.   BOARD  OF  DIRECTION. 

Sec.  I.     The  A  ct  of  Incorporation. 

Be  it  enacted,  by  the  People  of  the  State  of  New  York, 
represented  in  the  Senate  and  Assembly,  That  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  of  the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church 
shall  be  and  hereby  is  declared  to  be  a  body  corporate 
and  politic,  by  the  name  and  style  of  "  The  General  Sy- 
nod of  the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church,"  with 
full  power  to  sue  and  be  sued,  defend  and  be  defended 
by  that  name,  in  all  courts  of  law  and  equity  ;  and  to 
have  a  common  seal,  and  to  alter  the  same  at  pleasure  ; 


34  DIGEST.  Gh.  VI 

and  also  to  take,  purchase  and  hold  real  and  personal 
estate,  and  to  sell  and  convey  the  same,  provided  the 
yearly  value  of  the  same  shall  not  exceed  the  sum  of 
ten  thousand  dollars,  and  that  the  same  shall  not  be 
appropriated  to  any  other  than  religious  and  charitable 
uses  and  purposes. 

And  be  it  farther  enacted.  That  it  shall  be  lawful  for 
the  reg-ular  members  of  the  said  General  Synod,  at  their 
stated  annual  meetings,  to  appoint  a  President,  three 
Directors  and  a  Treasurer  of  said  corporation  ;  and  to 
make  and  ordain  by-laws  and  regulations  relating  to  the 
management  and  disposition  of  their  real  and  personal 
estate,  the  duties  of  the  said  President,  Directors  and 
Treasurer,  and  the  duration  of  their  respective  offices : 
Provided  always,  That  such  by-laws  and  regulations 
shall  not  be  inconsistent  with  the  Constitution  and  Laws 
of  this  State,  or  of  the  United  States. 

A7id  he  it  further  enacted,  That  it  shall  at  all  times  be 
lawful  for  the  Legislature  to  repeal  or  amend  this  act. 
Vol.  II.,  1819,  p.  4G. 

(b.)  Change  made  by  Legislature  of  Wew  York,  1869. 

The  People  of  the  State  of  New  York,  represented  in 
Senate  and  Assembly,  do  enact  as  follows  : 
Sec.  1.  It  shall  be  lawful  for  the  General  Synod  of 
the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church,  to  take  and 
hold  by  gift,  grant,  devise  or  other^^ise  hereafter  made 
and  by  purchase  heresifter  made,  to  hold  and  convey  any 
estate,  real  or  personal,  provided  that  the  clear  annual 
value  or  income  of  such  estate  shall  not  exceed  the  sum 
of  fifteen  thousand  dollars,  exclusive  of  such  Professor- 
ships and  Scholarships  for  the  purposes  of  theological 
education  as  may  be  from  time  to  time  endowed  ;  but 
the  right  herein  granted  to  take  and  hold  real  and  per- 


Sec.  2.  BOARDS  OP  THE  CHURCH.  35 

sonal  estate  by  bequest  or  devise  sball  be  subject  to  all 
provisions  of  law  in  relation  to  clevises  and  bequests  by 
last  \vill  and  testament.  Nothing  herein  contained  is 
to  be  construed  to  apply  to  any  question,  matter,  thing 
involved  or  at  issue  in  any  action  now  pending  in  any 
court  in  which  said  Synod  is  a  party,  or  to  any  action  or 
proceeding  which  may  hereafter  be  commenced  against 
or  by,  or  on  behalf  of  said  Synod,  or  in  which  said  Synod 
shall  be  a  party,  and  which  shall  not  relate  to  property 
granted,  bequeathed,  or  devised  to  or  acquired  by  said 
Synod  subsequent  to  the  passage  of  this  act. 

Sec.  2.  This  act  shall  take  effect  immediately. 

Passed,  April  14th,  1869.     Vol.  XL,  p.  555 

Sec.  II.    By-Laws.'^ 

1.  The  Board  shall  hold  a  stated  meeting  once  in 
every  month. 

2.  Special  meetings  shall  be  called  by  the  President 
whenever  he  shall  deem  it  necessary,  or  by  any  two  of 
the  Directors. 

3.  A  majority  of  the  Board  shall  be  a  quorum  to  tran 
sact  business,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  President  they 
shall  have  the  power  to  elect  a  President,  pro  tern. 

4.  The  Board  is  authorized  to  demand  and  receive  all 
moneys  belonging  to  the  General  Synod  of  the  Re- 
formed Church ;  to  draw  upon  the  Treasurer  from 
time  to  time"  for  such  money  in  his  hands  as  may 
be  necessary  to  answer  the  appropriations  made  by 
the  Synod,  and  to  apply  to  their  specific  objects  the 
benefactions  of  societies,  congregations,  and  indi- 
viduals. They  shall,  in  the  most  advantageous  man- 
ner, invest  all  moneys  that  shall  come  into  their  hands 
for  any  particular  /uud,  and  which  have  not  been  ap« 
propriatec\ 

*  See  Appandix. 


36  DIGEST.  Gh.  VI 

They  shall  appoint  a  Secretary,  whose  duty  it  shall 
be  to  keep  their  minutes,  to  correspond  with  the  agents 
appointed  by  this  Synod  for  the  collecting  of  moneys  for 
the  use  of  Synod,  and  mth  agents  which  have  been  or 
may  be  appointed  by  other  judicatories  of  the  Church. 

5.  The  Treasurer  shall  keep  a  regular  and  accurate 
account  of  all  moneys  by  him  received  and  disbursed, 
designating  the  specific  purposes  for  which  they  have 
been  received  or  expended,  and  shall  lay  before  the 
Board  such  account  quarterly  or  as  often  as  they  shall 
require. 

6.  The  Board  shall  report  annually  to  the  General 
Synod  a  statement  of  the  funds,  with  such  remarks  as 
they  may  think  necessary. 

7.  The  President,  Directors,  and  Treasurer  shall  Jiold 
their  offices  for  one  year,  or  until  others  are  appointed, 
except  in  cases  of  malconduct,  for  which  the  Treasurer, 
or  any  member  of  the  Board,  may  be  suspended  and  re- 
ported to  the  General  Synod  at  their  next  meeting. 

8.  All  drafts  on  the  Treasurer,  or  orders  of  the  Board, 
shall  be  signed  by  the  President,  who  shall  affix  the 
seal  of  the  corporation,  in  the  presence  of  the  Board,  to 
such  instruments  of  writing  as  may  require  it.  Vol.  II., 
1819.  pp.  48.  49, 

Sec.  III.     En  joined  to  collect  certain  fi(  nds. 

The  General  Synod  enjoin  it  on  the  Board  of  Cori)ora 
tion  to  collect  all  moneys  due  from  persons  who  have 
received  or  may  receive  aid  from  the  Theological  Funds, 
and  who  have  connected  or  may  connect  themselves 
with  other  denominations,  within  the  time  specified  in 
the  order  of  the  Synod.  1820,  p.  GO  ;  repeated  Vol.  V.. 
p.  76. 


Sec.  4.  BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  37 

Sec.  IV.    Have  power  to  Jill  vacancies  in  their  own  body. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Corporation  have  power 
to  fill  any  vacancies  that  may  occur  in  the  Board  by 
death  or  otherwise,  during  the  recess  of  General  Synod. 
1824,  p.  55  ;  Vol.  V.,  p.  76.     Vol.  X.,  p.  627. 

Sec.  V.    Have  power  to  manage  all  the  property  of 
Synod. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Corporation  be  and  here- 
by is  empowered  to  take  care  of  and  manage  all  the 
property,  real  and  personal,  of  General  Synod,  so  as  to 
preserve  it  from  loss  and  injury,  and  increase  its  pro 
ductiveness  during  the  pleasure  of  Synod.     1825,  p.  40. 

Sec.  VI.     To  use  the  name  "  Board  of  Direction  of  the 
Corporation."    Vol.  III.,  p.  69. 

Sec.  VII.    Have  charge  of  the  Widows'  Fund. 

The  fund  for  the  relief  of  disabled  ministers,  and  the 
widows  and  children  of  ministers,  shall  be  administered 
by  the  Board  of  Corporation,  during  the  pleasure  and 
under  the  control  of  General  Synod. 

The  moneys  belonging  to  tliis  fimd  shall  be  kept  sep- 
arate and  distinct  from  all  other  fimds  belonging  to 
General  Synod. 

The  officers  of  the  Board  of  Corporation  shall  be  offi 
cers  of  the  trust.     The  Treasurer's  duty  shall  be  to  col- 
lect the  income  and  to  make  all  payments.     He  shall 
report  minutely  and  fully  to  General  Synod  at  each  of 
its  annual  meetings.    Vol.  V.,  p.  111. 

Sec.  VIII.     To  prepare  the  annual  Digest. 

The  duty  of  preparing  an  annual  Digest  of  the  pecu- 
niary concerns  of  the  Synod  was  transferred  from  the 

B 


38  DIGEST.  Ch.  VI 

Treasurer  and  Stated  Clerk  of  General  Synod  to  the 
Board  of  Corporation  in  1819.     Vol.  II.,  1819,  p.  79. 

Sec.  IX.    Power  to  hold  real  estate  in  New  Jersey. 

Application  was  made  to  the  Legislature  of  the  State 
of  New  Jersey  for  an  act  authorizing  them  to  hold  real 
property  in  that  State,  which  was  granted.  Vol.  II., 
1826,  p.  15. 

Sec.  X.    Authorized  to  receim  the  funds  constituting  the 
Scliolarshix>s. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Corporation  be  author- 
ized to  receive  from  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Edu- 
cation the  funds  constituting  the  scholarships,  and  that 
the  proceeds  of  the  same,  together  with  those  of  the 
Heyer  scholarship,  be  applied  under  the  direction  of  the 
Board  of  Education.    Vol.  IV.,  p.  320. 

Sec.  XI.  Authonzed  to  receive  deeds  for  Rutgers  Col- 
lege. 1823,  p,  53  ;  1824,  p.  54 ;  1825,  p.  9  ;  1826,  p. 
15;  1827,  p.  19. 

Sec.  XII.  Authorized  to  execute  certain  leases  to  Rut- 
gers College.  Vol.  IV.,  p.  509  ;  Vol.  V.,  p.  486  ; 
Vol.  VI.,  p.  9. 

Sec.  XIII.  To  require  a  list  of  the  securities  for  loans 
made  from  the  Van  Benschoten  Fund. 

Resolved,  That  in  future  the  Board  of  Direction  re- 
quire from  the  Board  of  Trustee -^  of  Rutgers  College  a 
list  of  the  securities  for  the  loans  made  of  moneys  be- 
longing to  the  Van  Benschoten  and  Knox  Fimds,  to  be 
transmitted  to  Synod.    Vol.  VI.,  p.  243. 

Sec.  XIV.     To  pay  expenses  of  President  to  open  Synod. 

Resolved,  That  the  Treasurer  of  General  Synod  be  au- 


Sec.  15.  BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  39 

thorized  to  pay  tlie  necessary  travelling  expenses  of  the 
President  of  the  former  Synod  when  he  attends  to  open 
the  Synod,  and  is  not  a  delegate  to  Synod.  Vol.  VIH., 
p.  376. 

Sec.  XV.     To    borrow  money  ichen    necessary  to  pay 
salaries. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Direction  be  authorized 
to  borrow  on  the  credit  of  the  General  Synod,  from  time 
to  time,  such  sum  or  sums  of  money  as  may  be  neces- 
sary to  pay  the  salaries  of  the  Professors,  and  of  the  em- 
ployees of  the  General  Synod,  as  the  same  shall  become 
due.     Vol.  XL,  p.  189. 

Sec.  XVI.     To  liold  property  in  Michigan. 

Application  was  made  to  the  Legislature  of  Michigan 
for  an  act  authorizing  them  to  hold  property  in  that 
State,  which  was  granted.    Vol.  X.,  p.  253. 

B.   BOAPtD  OF   DOMESTIC   MISSIONS. 

Sec.  I.  Plan  adopted  by  General  Synod. 

1.  That  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  hereafter  con- 
sist of  twenty-four  members,  one-half  of  whom  shall  re- 
side in  the  cities  of  New  York,  Brooklyn,  and  Jersey 
City,  the  residue  to  be  appointed  from  other  parts  of  the 
Church — one  third  of  the  number  to  be  elected  annually 
by  General  Synod. 

2.  That  the  Board  shall  meet  on  the  second  Tuesday 
after  the  adjournment  of  General  Synod — on  the  Tues- 
day after  the  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  in 
November,  and  on  the  Tuesday  after  the  meeting  of  the 
said  committee  in  April. 

3.  That  the  first  meeting  of  this  Board  shall  be  held 
on  the  second  Tuesday  of  November  next,  at  the  Con- 


40  DIGEST.  Ch.  VI 

sistoiy  Room  in  Fulton  street,  New  York,  at  10  o'clock, 
A.  M.;  and  that  at  such  meeting,  in  addition  to  the  or- 
ganization of  the  Board,  they  shall  divide  themselves 
into  three  classes  ;  and  that  their  subsequent  meetings 
be  held  at  such  hour  as  they  may  themselves  decide, 
and  that  the  old  Board  continue  to  act  in  the  mean- 
time. 

4.  That  at  these  meetings  of  the  Board  all  the  actions 
of  the  Executive  Committee  shall  be  revised  and  passed 
upon  ;  and  that  at  each  meeting  the  Treasurer  shall 
make  a  report  of  the  state  of  the  funds. 

5.  That  said  Board  shall  annually  elect  an  Executive 
Committee,  consisting  of  nine  members,  to  manage  the 
Missionary  and  Church  Extension  concerns,  of  which  the 
Corresponding  Secretary  and  Treasurer  shall  be  ex-of- 
ficio  members  ;  of  the  remaining  seven,  three  shall  be 
laymen  and  four  ministers  ;  that  Jive  members  of  said 
Committee  shall  form  a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of 
business,  and  that  they  meet  monthly. 

6.  That  the  churches  be  earnestly  recommended  to 
make  annual  collections  for  the  purpose  of  aiding  feeble 
churches  in  erecting  houses  of  worship,  and  that  the 
several  Classes  be  directed  to  see  that  this  recommend- 
ation be  attended  to  in  the  best  manner  to  accomplish 
the  object. 

7.  That  authority  to  act  upon  the  principle  of  Church 
extension,  in  aiding  feeble  congregations  to  erect  houses 
of  worship,  be  added  to  the  existing  powers  of  the  Board 
of  Domestic  Missions  ;  and  that  all  moneys  collected  un- 
der the  authority  of  Synod  for  such  purpose  be  commit- 
ted to  the  said  Board  for  distribution  under  the  distinct 
inj  unction  that  the  exercise  of  the  charity  be  restricted 
to  cases  of  urgency,  where  due  economy  and  modesty 
shall  hav^e  marked  the  plan  of  structure  and  rate  of  ex- 


Sec.  1  BOAEDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  41 

penditure ;  where  tlie  congregation  applying  for  help, 
pledge  themselves  for  the  speedy  completion  of  the 
building  wdthout  leaving  debt,  and  where  legal  obliga- 
tions be  entered  into  that  the  smn  granted  shall  be  re- 
turned to  the  Reformed  Church,  in  case  of  the  enter- 
prise failing,  or  the  alienation  of  the  property  from  a 
sacred  use  or  the  authority  of  our  denomination. 

8.  That  except  when  otherwise  ordered  by  the  donors 
or  testators,  all  moneys  collected  for  Church  Extension 
shall  be  distributed  freely,  as  cases  of  need  occur,  that 
the  liberality  of  the  Church  be  promptly  as  well  as 
wisely  applied. 

9.  That  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  be  requested 
to  devise  and  endeavor  to  establish  an  efficient  system 
for  the  collection  of  funds,  by  which,  so  far  as  possible, 
burdens  may  be  equalized,  attention  to  the  charities  of 
the  Church  kept  up,  and  regularity  and  increase  of  con- 
tribution secured  ;  that  the  action  of  the  Board  may  be 
more  confident,  because  more  assured  of  funds,  and  the 
great  advantages  of  general,  systematic  liberality  gain- 
ed and  maintained, 

10.  That  all  other  enactments  touching  the  powers 
and  other  matters  that  relate  to  the  Constitution  of  the 
Board,  shall  remain  in  full  force. 

Sec.  II.  ]!^ot  to  make  appropriations  in  certain  cases. 
The  Board  of  Missions  is  instructed  not  to  make  ap- 
propriations in  behalf  of  any  person  laboring  in  any  va- 
cancy vrithin  our  bounds,  unless  he  shall  have  been 
regularly  licensed  to  preach  the  gospel,  and  only  then, 
when  the  established  rules  of  the  Board  shall  have  been 
complied  with.    Vol.  V.,  p.  59. 

Sec.  III.     To  organize  vacant  Chwxhes  through  Classis. 
The  Board  of  Missions  shall  direct  their  missionaries , 


42  DIGEST.  Ch.  VI 

whenever  a  churcli  is  to  be  organized  as  the  result  of 
their  labors,  that  application  be  made  to  the  next  con- 
tiguous Classis  for  their  action  upon  the  case,  that  the 
organization  may  be  effected  in  strict  accordance  with 
the  Constitution.    Vol.  V.,  p.  294. 

Sec.  IV.    2^ot  to  aid  a  Church  unless  it  he  recommended 
hy  the  Classis  to  which  it  belongs. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  should 
make  no  appropriation  to  any  church  asking  aid  in  the 
settlement  of  a  pastor,  unless  they  have  before  them  a 
recommendation  of  the  application  of  such  church  from 
the  Classis  within  whose  bounds  it  is  located.  Vol. 
VII.,  1846,  p.  89. 

Sec.  V.  Have  power  to  appoint  Commissioners. 

Resolved,  That  the  power  of  the  Board  of  Domestic 
Missions  to  appoint  commissioners  from  time  to  time, 
as  they  may  deem  necessary  for  the  furtherance  of  the 
work  committed  to  their  trust,  be,  and  hereby  is,  recog- 
nized on  the  part  of  the  Synod.     Vol.  VII.,  1846,  p.  88. 

Sec.  VI.     Are  authorized  to  fund  legacies. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions  are 
authorized  to  fund  any  moneys  accruing  from  bequests, 
and  expend  only  the  proceeds  of  the  same,  as  their  cir- 
cumstances may  from  time  to  require.  Vol.  VII.,  1846, 
p.  89. 

Sec.  VII.    Not  to  interfere  with  ecclesiastical  judica- 
tories. 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  cannot  approve  of  any  in- 
terference of  their  Missionary  Boards  with  their  eccle- 
siastical judicatories,  and  that   the  respective  Boards  of 


Sec.  8.  BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  43 

Missions  be  enjoined  to  refrain  from  any  such  inter- 
ference.   Vol.  III.,  p.  298. 

Sec.  Vni.     Who  may  be  honorary  members,  and  their 
privileges. 

Any  person  contributing  $30  at  one  time  may  be  an 
honorary  member,  but  without  any  privilege  of  deliber- 
ating or  voting.  Vol.  IV.,  p.  234.  This  sum  was  sub- 
sequently increased  to  $50.     Vol.  V.,  p.  85. 

Sec.  IX.     Candidates  or  ministers  of  other  denomina- 
tions not  to  he  employed  as  missionaries- 

Whereas,  it  appears  from  the  minutes  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  Missions,  that  an  engagement  had  been  en- 
tered into  with  a  licentiate  not  belonging  to  our  com- 
munion, employing  him  as  a  missionary ;  it  is  hereby 

Resolved,  As  the  sense  of  General  Synod,  that  the 
Committee  of  Missions  consider  themselves  to  be  here- 
after restricted  in  their  choice  of  missionaries  to  the 
ministers  and  candidates  of  the  Eeformed  Church.  1812, 
p.  32. 

Sec.  X.  To  apply  to  the  Stated  Clerks  of  Classes  for  in- 
formation. 

Resolved,  That  hereafter,  in  every  case  where  the 
Board  deem  it  necessary  to  have  additional  information 
of  the  state  and  abilities  of  the  churches  appl}ing  for 
aid,  the  Board  shall  apply  to  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the 
respective  Classes,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  furnish  de- 
tailed facts  and  information  to  the  Board.  Vol.  VII.,  p. 
195. 

Sec.  XI.    Method  of  estaUishing  missions  advised. 

Whereas,  it  is  desirable  that  the  operations  of  our 
Chiu'ch,  in  extending  its  growth  at  the  West,  be  con- 


44  DIGEST.  Ch.  VI 

ducted  in  tlie  most  earnest  and  efficient  manner,  espe- 
cially at  the  present  opportunity  ;  tlierefore, 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  respectfully  suggest  to  the 
Board  of  Domestic  Missions  the  follo\\dng  method,  as, 
in  our  view,  best  calculated  to  promote  the  end : 

Let  the  Board  at  once  select  and  appoint  at  least  four 
or  five  missionaries,  partly  from  those  who  have  already 
had  some  experience  in  the  ministry,  to  be  sent  out  in 
company  to  neighboring  places  in  some  portion  of  the 
West,  as  yet  unoccupied  by  our  Church,  but  adjoining 
the  present  Classes,  the  distinct  duty  of  such  mission- 
aries being  to  establish  a  new  Classis  as  soon  as  three 
churches  may  have  been  organized.     Vol.  X.,  p.  493. 

Sec.  XII.     Corresponding  Secretary  to  visit  the  West  an- 
nually. 

Resolved,  That  in  our  judgment  an  annual  official  visit 
to  the  West,  by  the  Corresponding  Secretary,  would  be 
so  beneficial  to  all  the  interests  involved  as  fully  to  jus- 
tify the  needful  time  and  expenditure.     Vol.  X.,  p.  493. 

Sec.  XIII.     To  secure  $50,000  for  a  Church  Building 
Fund. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  be  authorized  to  take  such 
measures  as  it  may  deem  expedient  to  secure  at  as  early 
a  day  as  practicable  an  endowment  of  the  Churcli  Build" 
ing  Fund  to  an  amount  of  not  less  than  $50,000.  Vol. 
X.,  p.  G40. 

Sec.  XIV.     'To  endeavor  to  enlist  in  its  service  prominent 
and  able  men. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  endeavor  to  enlist  promi- 
nent and  able  men  for  tliis  service,  and  send  them  forth 
to  the  work  as  soon  as  practicable.     Vol.  X.,  p.  639. 


Sec.  15         BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  45 

Sec.  XV.    Not  to  encroach  on  ground  occupied  by  tJie 
PrediyteHan  GhiircJi. 

Resolved,  That  we  enjoin  upon  our  Board  of  Domes- 
tic Missions  to  avoid  encroacliing  upon  the  ground  oc- 
cupied by  the  congregations  of  the  Presbyterian  Church. 
Vol.  XL,  p.  43. 

C.   BOABD  OF   FOREIGN   MISSIONS. 

Sec.  I.  Plan  adopted  by  General  Synod. 
CONSTITUTION. 

Art.  1.  The  management  and  control  of  the  Foreign 
Missions  of  the  Reformed  Church,  as  well  as  the  insti- 
tution of  new  Missions,  and  the  appointment  of  Missiona- 
ries, shall  be  committed  to  the  Board  of  Foreign 
Missions,  subject  to  the  revision  and  instruction  of 
the  General  Synod. 

Art.  2.  This  Board  shall  not  be  restricted  in  the  send- 
ing of  Missionaries  to  any  part  of  the  world,  or  to  any 
class  of  persons  who  are  without  a  pure  Gospel,  when 
Divine  Providence  opens  the  way  to  them,  and  the  men 
and  means  are  furnished. 

Art.  3.  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  shall  consist 
of  twenty -four  members,  (of  whom  one-third  shall  be 
chosen  at  each  annual  meeting  of  the  General  Synod), 
with  the  Corresponding  Secretary  and  Treasurer,  who 
shall  be  ex-offiicio  members. 

Art.  4.  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  shall  hold  its 
first  meeting  each  year,  as  soon  as  practicable  after  the 
meeting  of  the  General  Synod,  at  which  the  oflBcers  for 
the  year  shall  be  chosen. 

Art.  5.  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  shall  have  au- 
thority to   employ  ordained  Ministers,  and    Licentiates, 


46  DIGEST.  Cn.  VI 

the  wife  of  eacli  of  whom  shall  be  regarded  as  an  As- 
fiistant  Missionary;  Physicians,  Colporteurs,  Printers, 
unmarried  Female  Teachers,  all  to  be  at  the  time  of  ap- 
pointment members  in  communion  with  the  Reformed 
Church,  or,  having  taken  the  measures  necessary  to  be- 
come such — and  all  proper  agencies  for  raising  means 
in  our  Churches  for  the  support  of  the  Missions,  and  the 
use  of  the  Press,  both  at  home  and  abroad. 

Art.  6.  Any  person  by  the  contribution  of  Fifty  Dol- 
lars at  one  time,  may  become  a  member  for  life  of  the 
Board  of  Foreign  Missions,  and  shall  have  the  privilege 
of  meeting  with  the  Board,  and  participating  in  its  de- 
liberations, without  being  entitled  to  vote. 

Art.  7.  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  shall  submit 
to  the  General  Synod,  at  each  annual  meeting,  a  faith- 
ful report  of  its  acts,  with  the  annual  account  of  the 
Treasurer,  properly  audited,  and  submit  for  approval 
such  plans  and  measures  as  may  require  the  specific  at 
tention  of  the  General  ^Synod.  The  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary shall  be  present  at  each  meeting  of  Synod,  to 
make  such  explanations  as  may  be  called  for. 

Art.  8.  It  shall  be  the  steady  aim  of  the  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  to  secure  as  early  as  may  be  wise,  the 
organization  by  the  Missionaries  of  Chmches,  Classes, 
and  other  Church  Courts,  according  to  the  order  of  the 
Reformed  Church. 

Art.  9.  The  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  shall  meet  at 
least  quarterly,  at  such  hour  and  place  as  it  may  itself 
agree  on,  and  when  convened,  seven  members  shall  con- 
stitute a  quorum. 

Art.  10.  The  Board  shall  have  power  to  fill  vacancies, 
which  may  occur  in  the  progress  of  the  year — the  per- 
sons chosen  to  hold  such  place  until  the  next  meeting 
of  the  General  Synod. 


Sec.  2.  BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  47 

Art.  11.  Extra  meetings  of  the  Board  may  be  called 
on  tlie  vote  of  the  Executive  Committee,  or  the  written 
request  of  any  three  members. 

Resolved,  That  the  Synod  hereby  approve  and  sanc- 
tion *  *  *  the  Constitution  *  *  *  as  of  late 
adopted  by  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions.  Vol.  IX.,  p. 
263. 

Sec.  II.     Corresponding  Secretary  to  present  the  claims 
of  the  foreign  field  to  students. 

Eesolmd,  That  the  Corresponding  Secretary  of  our 
Board  be  requested  to  present  the  claims  of  the  foreign 
field  to  the  students  of  our  Seminary  as  often  during 
each  year  as  he  may  find  it  convenient.  Vol.  IX.,  p. 
225. 

Sec.  III.    Authorized  to  apply  for  an  act  of  incorpora- 
tion. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  *  * 
be  and  hereby  is  authorized  to  apply  to  the  Legislature 
of  this  (New  York)  State  for  an  act  of  incorporation. 
Vol.  IX.,  p.  458. 

Sec.  IV.    Authorized  to  open  a  credit  of  £8,000  sterling 
for  operations  abroad. 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Synod  approve  of  the 
opening  of  a  credit  by  their  Board  of  Foreign  Missiona 
to  the  amount  of  £8,000  sterling,  for  the  purpose  of  car- 
rying on  their  Missionary  operations  abroad.  Vol.  IX., 
p.  635. 

D.   BOARD   OF  EDUCATION. 

Sec.  I.  Plan  adopted  by  General  Synod. 
The  Board  of  Education  shall  consist  of  24  members. 


48  DIGEST.  Ch.  VI 

to  be  elected  for  three  years,  of  whom  nine  shall  consti- 
tute a  quorum  for  the  transaction  of  business.  They 
shall  be  divided  into  three  classes,  one  of  which  shall 
be  elected  annually.  They  shall  have  power  to  choose 
their  own  officers,  and  shall  have  the  immediate  care  of 
all  the  beneficiaries  and  education  interests  of  General 
Synod,  including  such  beneficiaries  as  shall  receive  sup. 
port  or  assistance  from  the  Van  Benschoten  and  Knox 
Funds  in  the  hands  of  the  Trustees  of  Rutgers  College, 
and  shall  have  power  to  make  such  By-Laws  as  they 
may  deem  necessary,  and  as  shall  not  contravene  the 
rules  established  by  General  Synod,  and  shall  annually 
report  all  their  proceedings  to  the  General  Synod. 

MODE  OF  KECEPTION. 

1.  Every  person  applying  to  be  received  as  a  bene- 
ficiary, must  be  a  member  in  regular  and  good  standing 
in  the  Reformed  Church,  and  must  also  have  been  a 
member  of  some  Protestant  Church  for  at  least  one  year 
previous  to  his  making  such  application. 

3.  If  any  one  wishes  to  avail  himself  of  the  aid  of  the 
Church,  he  shall  make  known  his  desire  to  his  Pastor, 
or  some  member  of  the  Classis  with  which  his  church  is 
connected,  who,  if  he  approves  of  it,  shall  make  applica- 
tion to  the  Classis  for  his  examination. 

3.  The  examination  shall  be  on  his  personal  piety,  on 
his  motives  for  seeking  the  holy  office  of  the  Ministry, 
on  his  general  habits,  on  his  studies,  his  talents,  his 
ability  for  public  speaking,  his  health,  his  freedom  from 
debt,  and  the  necessity  of  his  receiving  aid. 

4.  If  this  examination  be  sustained,  and  Classis  decide 
to  recommend  him  to  the  Board,  it  shall  be  done  in  the 
following  form : 


Sec.  1. 


BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 


49 


At  a  meeting  of  the  Classis  of  ,   held  at 

,  on  the  day   of  ,  18        , 

the  person  whose  name  is  given  in  the  following  report, 
having  been  examined  in  conformity  with  the  Plan  of 
Education  adopted  by  General  Synod,  is  hereby  recom 
mended  to  receive  aid  from  the  Educational  Funds  of 
the  Church  : 


No. 

Name 

.ge 

1  Residence 

j            With  what 
Church  connected 



^^tate  of  Education 

Place  of  Study 

Lowest  amount 
required 

When  received 

When  his  connection 
ceased 

General  Remarks 

5.  When  the  beneficiary  thus  recommended  shal 
ceived  by  the  Board  of  Education,  his  name  shall  b 
a  book  kept  by  the  Secretary,  and  ruled  in  the  folk 

•2^ 

i 

t 

1 

I 

St,ite  of 
[Education 

Lowest 
amount 
required 

1  have  been  re- 
e  entered  upon 
)wing  manner : 



i 
Health  ;  Debts 

1 

6.  This  power  of  examining  candidates  shall  be  vest- 
ed in  the  Board  of  Education  also,  and  they  shall  be  em- 


50  DIGEST.  Ch.   VI 

powered  to  make  sucli  examination  wlienever  in  their 
judgment  they  may  deem  it  necessary  or  desirable, 

7.  Every  beneficiary  shall  have  finished  a  complete 
and  regular  course  of  Collegiate  study  before  he  shall 
be  allowed  to  enter  the  Theological  Seminary,  unless  a 
dispensation  shall  have  been  obtained  from  General 
Synod. 

8.  If  at  any  time  there  shall  have  been  discovered  in 
any  student  such  defect  in  capacity,  diligence,  prudence 
or  piety,  as  would  render  liis  introduction  into  the  ^Min- 
istry  a  doubtful  measure,  it  shall  be  considered  the  sa- 
cred duty  of  the  Board  to  withdraw  their  appropria- 
tions. 

Students  shall  also  cease  to  receive  the  assistance  of 
the  Board  when  their  health  shall  have  become  such  as 
to  unfit  them  for  study,  and  for  the  work  of  the  minis- 
try ;  when  they  are  manifestly  improvident,  and  con- 
tract debts  without  reasonable  prospects  of  payment : 
when  they  marry,  and  when  the}'  receive  the  assistance 
of  any  other  Educational  Board  or  Society. 

9.  If  any  student  fail  to  continue  in  his  preparations 
for  the  work  of  the  ministry,  unless  in  the  judgment 
of  the  Board  he  be  providentially  prevented,  or  if  he 
cease  to  be  in  connection  with  the  Reformed  Church,  or 
if  the  withdrawal  of  his  support  shall  have  been  ren- 
dered necessary  by  wilful  neglect  of  duty  or  mal-con- 
duct,  he  shall  be  required,  at  the  discretion  of  the  Exe- 
cutive Committee  of  the  Board,  to  refund  all  the  money 
which  he  may  have  received  from  the  Board. 

10.  When  any  student  shall  have  found  it  necessary 
to  relinquish  study  for  a  time,  to  teach  or  otherwise  in- 
crease the  means  of  support,  he  shall  first  obtain  the 
consent  of  the  Executive  Committee,  and  it  shall  be  left 
to  their  decision  whether  his  appropriation,  under  the 


Sec.  2.  BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  51 

circumstances,  shall  be  continued,  or  continued  only  in 
part. 

11.  All  the  insti'uctors  of  the  youngf  men  under  the 
care  of  this  Board  shall  be  furnished  with  forms  of  a  re- 
port, and  shall  be  requested  to  fill  up  and  for^yard  the 
same  to  the  Secretary  of  the  Board,  at  the  close  of  each 
current  term  of  study. 

13.  All  the  students  shall  be  considered  to  be  under 
the  Pastoral  care  of  the  Secretary,  who  shall  endeavor 
to  cultivate  a  friendly  intercourse  ^vith  them,  and,  if  he 
deem  it  advisable,  occasionally  to  address  them  individ- 
ually or  together. 

13.  All  previous  action  of  General  Synod  which  is  in 
conflict  with  the  Plan  of  the  Board  of  Education  now 
adopted,  is  hereby  repealed.     Vol.  IX.,  pp.  198,  300. 

Sec.  n.    T(y  bestow  $B0  o?i  each  leneficiary  on  completing 
his  Theological  course. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Education  bestow  the 
sum  of  thirty  dollars,  *  *  *  on  each  l)eneficiary, 
if  asked  for,  at  the  completion  of  his  i]-"( (logical 
course.    Vol.  VHL,  p.  457. 

Sec.  III.  To  accept  two  years'  Domestic  Missionary  ser- 
vice in  lieu  of  repayment. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Education  be  directed  to 
accept  from  all  beneficiaries,  after  their  licensure,  two 
years'  service  under  the  care  of  the  Board  of  Domestic 
Missions,  as  a  full  satisfaction  for  all  aid  afforded  them 
by  the  Board  of  Education.    Vol.  VIII.,  p.  457. 

Sec.  IV.  Empowered  to  appoint  a  Corresponding  Secre- 
tary. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Education,  be  and  they 


52  DIGEST.  Cli.  VI 

are  hereby  empowered  to  appoint  a  Correspondino:  Sec- 
retary *  *  *,  who  shall  be  devoted  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  educational  interests  of  our  Church.  Vol. 
VIIL.  p.  4G1  ;  Vol.  IX,  page  17. 

Sec.  V.  Appropriations  raised  to  $150  j?^?'  annum. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Education  be  instructed 
to  add  thirty  dollars  per  annum  to  the  sum  of  $120 
heretofore  granted  to  the  beneficiaries  *  *  in  our 
Institutions  at  New  Brunswick.     Vol.  VIII.,  p.  464. 

Sec.  VI.  To  fix  amount  of  Secretary's  salary. 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Synod  remove  the  limit 
of  the  amount  which  the  Board  may  pay  to  the  Secre- 
tary, leaving  the  amount  of  his  salary  to  be  determined 
by  the  Board.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  197. 

Sec.  VII.  To  record  terms  of  bequests  in  a  suitable  book. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Education  cause  to  be 
procured,  and  recorded  in  a  book  provided  for  the  pur- 
pose, a  transcript  of  the  bequests  or  grants  made,  that 
the  specific  terms  of  each  may  be  sacredly  observed  in 
all  particulars  expressed  therein.     Vol.  VIII.,  p.  467. 

Sec.  VIII.  To  fill  vacancies  occurring  between  meetings 
of  Synod 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Education  be  authorized 
to  fill  any  vacancies  that  may  occur  in  their  number  be- 
tween the  sessions  of  General  Synod  ;  and  that  the 
persons  so  chosen  shall  serve  till  the  expiration  of  the 
time  of  those  whose  places  they  take.     Vol,  IX.,  p.  197. 

Sec.  IX.  Classis  or  Ghvrch  in  recommending  a  benefi- 
ciary to  make  efforts  to  sustain  him. 

It  is  recommended  to  any  Classis  which  may  desire 


Sec.  10.  BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  5B 

to  aid  a  young  man  in  liis  education  for  the  gos})el  min- 
istry, to  assume  tlie  responsibility  of  liis  support,  wlien 
it  is  at  all  practicable  to  do  so. 

When  any  church  recommends  a  beneficiary  to  the 
funds  of  the  Education  Board,  or  any  other  funds  at 
the  disposal  of  this  Synod  for  classical  or  theological 
education,  such  church  or  consistory  shall  first  make  an 
effort  to  sustain  such  young  man,  and  report  to  the 
Classis  with  which  such  church  is  connected  to  what 
extent  they  shall  be  able  to  assist.     Vol,  VI.,  p.  231. 

Sec.  X.  The  Board  to  seek  repayment  in  certain  cases. 

The  Board  shall  observe  all  such  younp;  men  as  may 
abandon  the  prosecution  of  their  preparation  for  the 
ministry,  or  may  retire  to  some  other  denomination, 
and  demand  from  them  the  repa^Tnent  of  what  they 
have  received,  and  that  in  case  of  their  failing  to  do  so 
without  satisfactory  reasons,  their  names  be  published 
by  the  Board.    Vol.  V.,  p.  393. 

Sec.  XI.  Beneficiaries  must  he  poor. 

In  order  to  prevent  application  for  aid  on  the  part  of 
those  whose  parents  are  able  to  support  them,  the 
Board  of  Superintendents  is  directed  to  appropriate  no 
moneys  to  any  student  who  has  not  a  certificate  from 
the  consistory  of  the  church  to  which  he  belongs,  that 
his  parents  are  unable  or  unwilling  to  support  him,  or 
that  he  has  not  sufficient  means  of  support.  Vol.  II., 
1819,  p.  40. 

Sec.  XII.  Great  care  to  be  exercised  in  receiving  benefi- 
ciaries. 

Resolved,  That  the  several  Classes  be  and  hereby  are 
solemnly  and  urgently  urged  to  exercise  great  care  in 


54  DIGEST.  CJi.  VI 

their  proposed  examination  of  beneficiaries ;  and  that 
they  be  and  hereby  are  enjoined  to  require  clear  evi- 
dence, not  only  of  piety  and  prudence,  but  of  a  high 
and  suitable  order  of  talent. 

Resolved,  That  when  applicants  are  thus  recommend- 
ed to  the  Board  of  Education,  the  Board  shall  also 
grt^'^ct  them  to  a  still  further  examination,  and  shall 
keep  a  careful  minute  of  the  result,  and  no  applicant 
shall  be  received  as  a  beneficiary  until  both  examina- 
tions shall  have  been  satisfactorily  sustained.  Vol.  VII., 
1846,  p.  72. 

Sec,  XIII.  Bights  and  duties  of  Glasses,  &c.,  in  rela- 
tion to  heneficiaries  of. 

Besolved,  That  all  the  beneficiaries  supported  by  a 
Classis,  a  Consistory,  or  an  Association,  be  put  under 
the  care  of  the  Board  of  Education. 

Besolved,  That  the  Board  of  Education  be  authorized 
to  recognize  the  right  of  Classes  an(^  Consistories  and 
Associations  to  nominate  beneficiaries,  when  accompa- 
nied with  a  promise  to  provide  the  means  of  support. 
Vol.  IV.,  p.  298. 

Sec.  XIV.  Their  heneficiaries  not  to  he  confined  to  any 
2)articidar  literary  institution. 
Besolved,  That  the  Board  of  Education  have  discre- 
tionary power  in  appropriating  moneys  in  aid  of  our 
young  men  pursuing  preparatory  literary  studies,  in 
any  literary  institution  which  such  Board  may  approve. 
Vol.  IV.,  p.  516. 

Sec.  XV.     Names  of  heneficiaries  not  to  he  2nihlished. 

Besolved,  That  hereafter  the  names  of  beneficiaries 

shall  not  be  published  on  the  Minutes  of  the  Particular 

or  General  Synods,  and  that  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the 

respective  Classes,  whenever  young  men  are  recom- 


Sec.  16.  BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  55 

mended  for  aid,  send  a  properly  certified  copy  of  such 
action  directly  to  tlie  Stated  Clerk  of  General  Synod. 

Vbi.  vn.,  p.  74. 

Sec.  XVI.    Enlargement  of  its  powers  to  assist  in  es- 
tablishment of  Academies. 

Besolved,  That  this  General  Synod  empower  the 
Board  of  Education  so  to  enlarge  its  sphere  of  action 
as  to  be  able  to  cooperate  efficiently  and  in  such  man- 
ner and  to  such  extent,  as  in  its  judgment  shall  be 
wisest  and  best,  mth  the  various  Classes  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  academies  and  classical  schools  within  the 
bounds  of  said  Classes.    Vol.  X.,  p.  G22. 

E.   BOARD  OF  PUBLICATION. 

Sec.  I.    PuUicotion  Committee  and  Lemma  ordered. 

Resolmd,  That  another  committee  be  added  to  the 
Standing  Committees  to  be  called  the  "  Committee  on 
Publication,"  and  also  another  lemma  to  be  called 
"  Board  of  Publication."    Vol.  VHI.,  p,  495. 

Sec.  n.  Plan  adopted  ly  Synod. 

CONSTITUTION. 

Art.  1.  The  General  Synod  shall  superintend  and 
conduct,  by  its  own  authority,  the  publication  and  cir- 
culation of  all  the  religious  works  which  are  designed 
for  general  diffusion  among  the  churches  under  its  care. 
The  immediate  care  and  superintendence  of  this  work 
shall  be  entrusted  to  a  Board  appointed  for  that  pur- 
pose, to  be  called  the  Board  of  Publication  of  the  Re- 
formed Church.  Said  Board  to  be  directly  amenable  to 
the  General  Synod. 


56  DIGEST.  Ch.  VI 

Ai't.  2,  §  1.  The  General  Synod  shall,  at  its  present 
session,  elect  twelve  ministers  and  twelve  laymen,  as 
members  of  the  Board  of  Publication ;  one  third  part 
of  whom  shall  be  elected  annually  by  General  Synod. 
These  twelve  ministers  and  twelve  laymen,  so  appoint- 
ed, shall  constitute  a  Board,  to  whom  shall  be  entrusted 
with  such  directions  as  may,  from  time  to  time,  be  given 
by  General  Synod,  the  superintendence  of  all  the  pub- 
lications of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  the  circulation 
of  such  works  pertaining  to  the  History,  Government, 
Doctrines,  and  Eeligious  Literature  of  said  Church,  and 
of  other  evangelical  denominations,  as  shall  be  properly 
approved. 

§  2.  The  Board  shall  annually  report  to  the  General 
Synod  their  proceedings,  and  submit,  for  its  approval, 
such  plans  and  measures  as  shall  be  deemed  useful  and 
necessary. 

Art.  Ill,  §  1.  The  Board  thus  constituted,  shall  hold 
its  first  meeting  in  the  Consistory  lloom  of  the  North 
Dutch  Church,  in  Fulton  street.  New  York,  on  the  last 
Monday  of  June,  at  2  o'clock,  P.  M.  At  this  meeting 
they  shall  divide  themselves  into  three  classes ;  the 
^rs^  class  shall  serve  for  one  year,  the  second  fortv^o 
years,  and  the  tliird  for  three  years.  They  shall  also 
elect  a  President,  Vice  President,  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary, a  Treasurer,  and  Executive  Committee  to  serve 
for  the  ensuing  year. 

§  2.  It  shall  belong  to  the  Board  to  re\aew  and  de- 
cide upon  all  the  proceedings  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee ;  to  receive  and  dispose  of  their  Annual  Report,  and 
present  any  statement  of  their  proceedings  to  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  which  they  may  deem  necessary. 


Sec.  2.  BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  57 

§  3,  Seven  members  sliall  constitute  a  quorum  for 
the  transaction  of  business. 

Art.  IV.,  §  1.  Tlie  Executive  Committee  shall  con- 
sist of  nine  members,  of  which  the  Corresponding  Sec- 
retary and  Treasurer  shall  be  ex-officio  members  5  of  the 
remaining  seven,  three  shall  be  ministers  and  four  lay- 
men. 

§  2.  The  duty  of  the  Executive  Committee  shall  be 
to  select  and  prepare  suitable  tracts  and  books  for  pub- 
lication ;  to  superintend  and  direct  their  distribution  ; 
to  receive  the  reports  of  the  Corresponding  Secretary^ 
and  give  him  needful  directions  in  reference  to  matters 
of  business  and  correspondence  entrusted  to  him ;  to 
authorize  all  appropriations  of  moneys  ;  and  to  take 
particular  direction  and  management  of  the  whole  sub- 
ject of  publication — subject,  however,  to  the  control 
and  direction  of  the  Board  of  Managers. 

§  3.  The  Committee  shall  have  power  to  fill  their 
own  vacancies,  if  any  occur  during  the  recess  of  the 
Board. 

Art.  V.  For  the  more  permanent  and  efficient  man- 
agement of  the  publishing  and  fiscal  affairs  of  the 
Board,  the  necessary  steps  shall  be  taken  by  the  Board 
to  secure  an  act  of  incorporation,  imder  the  style  and 
title  of  "The  Board  of  Publication  of  the  Reformed 
Church  in  America.'' 

Art.  VI.  The  seat  of  operations  of  the  Board  shall 
be  in  the  City  of  New  York  ;  but  the  Board  shall  have 
the  power  to  locate  Branch  Depositories  at  any  other 
place  which  they  may  deem  expedient. 

Art.  VII.  The  financial  operations  of  the  Board  shall 
in  all  cases,  be  conducted  on  the  cash  principle. 


58  DIGEST.  Ch.  VI 

Art.  VIII.  Tiie  General  Synod  sliall  alone  liave  power 
to  alter,  amend,  or  repeal  any  of  the  Articles  of  this 
Constitution.    Vol.  VIII.,  pp.  489-90. 

Sec.  III.     Ghiirch  Schools  to  iise  their  hooks. 

\ 
Resohed,  That  all  the  schools  of  the  Church  Paro- 
chial and  Sabbath,  be  earnestly  recommended  to  adopt 
this  series  {i.  e.  the  Christian  School  Books)  as  a  part  of 
their  course  of  instruction.     Vol.  IX.,  p.  334. 

Sec.  IV.    Issuing  the  Psalmody  committed  to  them. 

Resolved,  That  the  future  issuing  of  our  Psalmody 
be  committed  to  the  Board  of  Publication. 

Resolved,  That  the  particular  attention  of  the  Board 
be  called  to  the  execution  of  this  important  work,  espe- 
cially so  far  as  the  paper,  type  and  binding  are  con- 
cerned. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  be  directed  to  furnish  our 
Psalm  and  Hymn  Book  to  the  public  at  cost,  or  as  near 
it  as  possible. 

Resolved,  That  no  edition  be  issued  unaccompanied 
by  the  doctrinal  standards  and  liturgy  of  the  Church. 
Vol.  IX..  p.  360. 

Sec.  V.    Authorized  to  print  the  Liturgy  in  German. 

Resolved,  That  the  petition  for  the  printing  of  the 
Liturgy  *  *  *  in  German,  for  the  benefit  of  the 
German  brethren  in  our  churches,  be  referred  to  the 
Board  of  Publication,  with  authority  to  so  publish,  if  it 
appears  best.    Vol.  X.,  p.  647. 

F.     VARIOUS  MATTERS   CONCERNING  THE  BOARDS. 

Sec.  1.     Recommendations  of  Synod  not    intended    to 
impose  imperative  obligations. 

Resolved,  That  this   Synod,   in  the  formation  of  its 


Sec.  2.  BOARDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  59 

Boards,  and  its  recommendation  of  various  charities  to 
ttie  several  cliurclies  under  its  care,  has  never  claimed 
to  impose  upon  the  churches,  and  the  Classes  in  wliich 
they  are  embraced,  an  imperative  obligation  to  contri- 
bute to  such  causes.  Vol.  IX.,  p.  38. 
Sec.  II.      Corresponding  Secretary   and   Treasurer  of 

each  Board  are  ex-ojftcio  members  of  said  Boards. 

Vol.  IX.,  p.  244. 

Sec.  III.     Names  of  officers  and  members  of  Boards  to 
he  published  in  Minutes  of  Synod.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  465. 

Sec.  IV.    Financial  year  to  end  April  30. 

Resolved,  That  the  financial  year  of  the  Board  of  Di- 
rection, and  of  the  several  other  Boards  under  the 
charge  of  the  Synod,  terminate  with  the  30th  of  April 
of  each  year,  and  that  the  Treasurers  make  up  their 
yearly  accounts  accordingly.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  465. 

Sec.  V.    Places  of  members  absent  continuously,  one 
year,  to  be  considered  vacant,  and  -filled. 

Besolved,  That  in  all  cases  where  a  member  of  any 
one  of  our  benevolent  Boards  shall  fail  to  attend  the 
stated  meetings  of  such  Board  for  a  twelvemonth,  con- 
tinuously, such  failure  shall  be  deemed  a  resignation 
of  his  office,  and  the  Board  shall  have  liberty  to  fill  his 
place  by  a  new  apjDointment  for  the  unexpired  term. 
Vol.  IX.,  p.  582. 

Sec.  VI.    Reports  to  be  printed  by  the  opening  of 
Synod. 

Resolved,  That  the  various  Boards  of  our  Church  be 
requested,  if  practicable,  to  have  their  reports  printed 
and  ready  for  distribution  at  the  opening  of  the  meet- 
ings of  Synod.     Vol   IX.,  p.  582. 


60  DIGEST.  Ch.  VI 

Sec.  VII.     Reports  to  he  done  up  loitli  the  Minutes  of 
Synod. 

Besolved,  That  tlie  Reports  of  each  of  our  Boards, 
when  printed,  be  done  up  with  the  Minutes  of  Synod, 
and  thus  distributed  through  the  churches.  Vol.  X., 
p.  345. 

Sec.  VIII.    Pastors  and  Consistories  to  try  to  raise  the 
standard  of  beneficence. 

Besolved,  That  it  be  enjoined  upon  pastors  and  con- 
sistories of  churches  to  give  increased  attention  to  this 
grace,  in  which  they  ought  to  abound ;  that  all  proper 
efforts  should  be  promptly,  systematically  and  perse- 
veringly  made  to  raise  the  actual  beneficence  of  all  the 
churches  to  the  scriptural  standard.     Vol    IX.,  p.  572. 

Sec.  IX.  Tabular  statement  of  receipts  to  be  put  in 
Minutes  of  Synod. 
ResoUed,  That  the  Stated  Clerk  of  the  Synod,  with 
the  aid  of  the  Treasurers  of  the  Boards,  be  requested 
to  prepare,  annually,  a  tabular  statement  of  the  contri- 
butions made  by  the  several  churches  to  the  Boards, 
and  Funds  recommended  by  Synod  ;  that  each  amount 
so  credited  shall  embrace  in  one  sum  all  that  may  have 
been  contributed  to  such  object,  from  whatever  source, 
and  that  such  statement  be  reported  annually  to  Synod 
and  published  in  the  proceedings  of  Synod  under  the 
head  of  article  22d.     Vol.  X.,  p.  212. 

Sec.  X.     Disposition  of  moneys  collected  for  Sabbath 
School  purposes. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  that  of  the  moneys 
collected  for  Sabbath  schools,  those  designed  for  their 
establishment  and  maintenance,  be  placed  in  the  hands 


Sec.  11.       EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  61 

of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Domestic  Board,  and  those  col- 
lected for  libraries  and  books  to  be  used  by  the  schools, 
be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board 
of  Publication.    Vol.  X.,  p.  316. 

Sec.  XI.    Pulpit  sliould  teach  and  youth  he  trained  to 
systematic  benevolence. 

Resolved,  That  the  practice  of  systematic  benevolence 
is  an  important  part  of  the  early  training  of  youth,  and 
should  be  especially  inculcated  from  the  pulpit  as  one 
of  the  best  exponents  of  Christian  character.  Vol.  X., 
p.  636. 

Sec.  XII,    Secretanes  to  report  Churches  and  pastors 
neglecting  to  aid  their  Boards. 

Resolved,  That  the  Secretaries  of  the  benevolent 
Boards  of  this  Church  be  directed  to  report  to  General 
Synod,  each  year,  the  names  of  all  churches,  with  the 
names  of  the  pastors,  that  have  not  contributed  to  the 
funds  of  their  respective  Boards  for  two  years  consec- 
utively.   Vol.  XI.,  p.  501. 

CHAPTER  VII. 

EDUCATIONAL   INSTITUTIONS. 
A.   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY  AT  NEW  BRUNSWICK. 

Sec.  I.    Plan  of  the  School. 

Art.  I.    Of  General  Synod. 

1.  All  the  authority  of  the  Reformed  Church  is  vested 

in  the  General  Synod,  as  the  last  resort.     This  Synod 

shall  have  paramount  authority  over  the  Theological 

School,  its  officers,  laws  and  instructions. 


62  DIGEST.  Ch.  VII 

2.  The  General  Synod  shall  appoint  a  Board  of  Su- 
perintendents, consisting  of  one  member  from  each 
Classis,  and  the  respective  Classes  themselves  shall 
have  the  right  to  nominate  to  General  Synod  the  rep- 
resentatives to  which  they  are  entitled  in  the  Board, 
for  the  confirmation  and  appointment  by  Synod.  The  . 
members  shall  serve  for  three  years.  Those  now  chosen 
shall  arrange  themselves  by  lot  into  three  classes  ;  the 
first  to  serve  for  one  year,  the  second  for  two  years,  the 
third  for  three  years  ;  and  the  Board  shall  report  annu- 
ally what  seats  become  vacant  each  year.  Vol.  IV., 
p.  302  ;  Vol.  v.,  p.  518. 

3.  All  the  Professors  of  this  Theological  School  shall 
be  chosen  by  the  General  Synod,  but  in  the  recess  of 
Synod  the  Board  of  Superintendents  may  temporarily 
employ  a  person  or  persons  to  perform  the  duties  of  a 
Professor. 

Akt.  II.     Of  the  Superintendents. 

1.  The  Board  of  Superintendents  shall  meet  annually 
in  the  Professoral  Hall  on  the  Tuesday  preceding  the 
third  Tuesday  in  May,  of  which  meeting  the  Stated 
,Clerk  of  the  Board  shall  give  notice,  through  the  Chris- 
tian Intelligencer,  each  year ;  and  any  six  members, 
when  regularly  convened,  shall  be  a  quorum  for  the 
transaction  of  business. 

3.  The  Board  shall  open  and  close  all  their  meetings 
with  prayer. 

3.  The  Board  shall  choose  a  President  and  Secretary, 
keep  minutes  of  all  their  transactions,  and  lay  them, 
with  a  summary  account  of  the  state  of  the  School, 
before  General  Synod,  at  every  stated  meeting.  The 
Stated  Clerk  of  the  Board  shall  be  a  permanent  oflBcer, 
i.  e.,  shall  continue  from  year  to  year  until  he  shall  re* 


JSec.  1.        EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  63 

•sign,  or  any  Board,  for  sufficient  cause,  shall  elect  a 
successor.     Vol.  V.,  p.  518. 

4.  The  power  of  admiiting  students  into  the  Theo- 
logical School,  and  of  granting  full  dismissions  from 
the  same,  is  vested  in  the  Board  of  Superintendents ; 
and  they  are  directed  to  appoint  a  committee  in  the 
neighborhood  of  New  Brunswick  to  act  on  these  sub- 
jects during  the  recess  of  the  Board. 

5.  The  Board  shall  superintend  an  annual  examina- 
tion of  all  the  students  under  the  care  of  the  Profes- 
sors, to  ascertain  their  talents  and  proficieacy. 

6.  The  Board  shall  be  competent  to  reprimand  or  re- 
move immoral  or  incompetent  students,  to  inspect  the 
doctrines  taught  by  Professors  and  the  general  course 
of  study,  and  to  recommend  to  Synod  such  measures 
or  changes  as  they  may  think  advantageous  to  the 
School  and  the  general  interests  of  the  Church. 

7.  The  President  is  authorized  to  call  a  special  meet- 
ing of  the  Board  at  the  request  of  a  Professor  or  Pro- 
fessors, or  of  any  two  members,  at  any  time,  provided 
four  weeks'  previous  notice  be  given. 

Akt.  III.     Of  the  Professors. 

1.  The  number  of  the  Professors  in  the  School  shall 
be  determined  by  General  Synod,  and  their  duties  shall 
be  prescribed  by  Synod,  or  by  the  person  or  persons 
who  may  endow  a  professorship,  under  the  immediate 
direction  of  the  Superintendents :  Provided,  always, 
that  the  School  be  not  considered  as  completely  organ- 
ized without  three  Professors,  and  that  all  of  them  be 
ordained  ministers  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

2.  The  salaries  of  all  the  Professors  hereafter  ap- 
pointed shall  be  fixed  by  a  vote  of  General  Synod. 


64  DIGEST.  Ch.  VII 

3.  The  Professors  shall  attend  three  lectures  or  reci- 
tations every  week,  aiid  accompany  them  with  prayer. 

4.  Every  Professor  intending  to  resign,  shall  give 
six  months'  notice  to  the  Board  of  Superintendents. 

5.  They  shall  attend  morning  and  evening  prayers 
with  their  pupils,  either  separately  or  in  conjunction 
with  the  Facility  and  students  of  Rutgers  College,  and 
supply  them  with  the  preaching  of  the  gospel,  and  the 
administration  of  the  sacraments  by  themselves  or  by 
some  church  in  lUsew  Bruns^vick. 

6.  The  Professors  shall  have  the  power  of  reprimand- 
ing or  suspending  from  the  School,  disrespectful,  im- 
moral or  incompetent  students,  during  the  recess  of 
the  Board  of  Superintendents,  subject  to  the  revision  of 
the  Board. 

7.  In  respect  to  absences  caused  by  sickness  or  pecu- 
niary considerations,  it  is  left  to  the  Faculty  to  deter- 
mine how  long  and  for  what  cause  a  student  may  be 
absent,  and  vet  resimie  his  place  in  his  class,  subject  to 
the  re^dsion  of  the  Board.     Vol.  VL,  p.  291. 

8.  The  Synod  wiU.  always  feel  gratified  by  enjoying 
the  attendance  of  the  Professors  in  the  Theological 
Seminary  at  the  sessions  of  Synod,  whenever  their  pro- 
fessional duties  will  admit.     1824,  p.  55  ;  Vol.  V.,  p.  78 

9.  The  Professors  shall  be  organized  into  a  Faculty 
for  the  exercise  of  the  powers  vested  in  them  by  this 
plan,  and  they  are  directed  to  hold  monthly  meetings, 
and  more  frequently  if  they  deem  it  necessary.  The 
Professors  shall  preside  qiiarterly  in  rotation,  begin- 
ning with  the  senior  Professor.    Vol.  V.,  ])p.  424,  425 

Art.  IV.     Of  Students. 

1.  Every  student  before  his  admission  to  the  Theo- 
logical School,  shall  produce  a  certificate  of  his  mem- 


Ssc.  1.        EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  65 

bei^liip  in  some  regular  Protestant  church,  and  a  di- 
ploma from  some  literary  college,  or  testimonials  of 
such  literary  attainments  as  would  entitle  him  to  such 
diploma.  He  shall  moreover  submit  to  an  examination 
by  the  Board,  or  such  committee  as  they  may  appoint, 
of  his  piety,  talents  and  such  other  qualifications  as 
would  give  reasonalle  ground  to  hope  that  he  is  called 
of  God  to  preach  the  gospel. 

2.  Every  student  in  the  Reformed  Church  shall,  pre- 
vious to  his  commencing  the  study  of  theology,  make 
himself  known  as  such  to  the  Board  of  Superintend- 
ents, and  shall  be  considered  under  the  care  of  said 
Board.  And  every  student  of  divinity,  under  whomso- 
ever he  may  have  studied,  shall,  previous  to  his  exam- 
ination by  the  Professor,  apply  for  the  said  purpose  to 
the  Board  of  Superintendents,  before  he  is  examined 
and  licensed, 

3.  The  students  shall  exhibit  to  the  Professors  week- 
ly, in  rotation,  one  lecture  or  sermon  on  such  subjects 
as  the  Professors  shall  appoint,  and  each  one  annually 
to  the  Superintendents,  and  write  upon  such  subjects  as 
the  Professors  may  prescribe. 

4.  Strict  morality,  piety,  diligence  in  studies  and  at- 
tendance upon  lectures,  recitations  and  prayers  are  re- 
quired, under  pain  of  reproof  or  expulsion. 

5.  Every  student  shall  spend  a  portion  of  his  time, 
morning  and  evening,  in  private  devotion,  and  every 
Lord's  day  in  public,  social  and  private  worship,  with 
a  particular  reference  to  personal  religion  and  growth 
in  grace, 

6.  Those  students  who  are  not  able  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  their  education,  shall  be  assisted  as  far  as 
practicable  from  the  funds  devoted  to  that  purpose. 


66  DIGEST.  Ch.  VII 

Akt.  5.     Of  the  Time  and  Course  of  Study y 

1.  The  time  and  course  of  study  in  this  School  shall 
not  be  less  than  three  years. 

2.  The  whole  course  of  instruction  shall  consist  of 
Natural,  Didactic,  Polemic  and  Practical  Theology  ; 
Biblical  Literature,  including  Critica  Sacra,  Herme- 
neutica  Sacra,  Biblical  Antiquities,  Sacred  Geography, 
and  the  Original  Languages ;  Ecclesiastical  History, 
including  Chronology,  Church  Government  and  Pas- 
toral Theology. 

The  studies  of  the  first  year,  or  Junior  Class,  shall 
be  Critica  Sacra,  Biblical  Antiquities,  Sacred  Geogra- 
phy, Composition,  the  Original  Languages,  the  His- 
tory of  the  Old  Testament,  and  so  much  of  Pastoral 
Theology  as  relates  to  the  composition  and  delivery  of 
sermons. 

The  studies  of  the  second  year  shall  be  Didactic 
and  Polemic  Theology,  Hermeneutica  Sacra,  Ecclesi 
astical  History,  and  the  Original  Languages  contin- 
ued. 

The  studies  of  the  third  year  shall  be  Didactic  and 
Polemic  Theology,  Pastoral  Theology,  Ecclesiastical 
History,  Church  Government,  Hermeneutica  Sacra,  and 
the  Original  Languages. 

A  general  revision  of  the  former  studies  shall  be 
required  at  the  close  of  each  year  ;  and  there  shall 
be  anniversary  exercises,  in  which  each  member  of  the 
Senior  Class  shall  bear  a  part,  under  the  direction  of 
the  Professors. 

3.  Students,  at  the  expiration  of  three  years  of  reg- 
ular study,  shall  be  admitted  to  an  examination,  to 
be  conducted  by  the  Professors  before  the  Board  of- 
Superintendents,  and,  as  the  case  may  require,  be  con- 


Sec.  1.        EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  67 

tinned  longer  in  the  School  or  furnished  with  a  certifi- 
cate signed  by  the  Professor,  which  shall  admit  them 
to  an  examination  for  licensure  before  their  respective 


Art.  VI.     Course  in  the  Didactic  Department. 

1.  While  the  present  text-book  (Mark's  Medulla) 
shall  be  put  into  the  hands  of  the  students,  and  they 
shall  be  required  habitually  to  refer  to  it  on  the  sub- 
jects of  the  course,  as  they  occur,  it  shall  be  chiefly 
used  by  the  Professor  as  his  guide  in  the  order  of 
his  instruction.  But  the  students  shall  not  be  required 
either  to  commit  to  memory  or  to  recite  the  same  in 
the  lecture-room.  A  general  syllabus,  however,  of  the 
whole  subject,  in  as  condensed  a  form  as  its  complete- 
ness will  allow,  embracing  definitions  and  the  Classis 
argumejitoricm,  drawn  from  the  text-book  by  the  Pro- 
fessor, should  be  in  the  hands  of  every  student  and 
committed  to  memory  carefully  by  the  Junior  Class,  to 
be  reviewed  from  time  to  time  by  all  the  Classes. 

2.  The  Professor  shall  deliver  original,  full,  connect- 
ed, continuous  and  well-digested  written  lectures  upon 
the  branches  of  Theological  Science,  in  the  order  pre- 
scribed  in  the  present  text-book  used  in  the  Institu- 
tion, and  embracing  a  special  reference  to  the  canons 
and  the  other  standards  of  the  Church,  and  all  the 
modern  controversies  in  theology. 

3.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Didactic  Professor  to 
institute  and  prosecute  a  course  of  elementary  instruc- 
tion upon  the  subjects  of  theology  with  the  first  or  Jun- 
ior Class,  regulated  by  the  standards  of  the  Church, 
in  such  way  as  shall  prepare  them  to  enter  upon  the 
full  study  of  the  system  of  Didactic  Theology  in  the 
second    year  of  their   course,   during  which  year  his 


68  DIGEST.  Ch.  VII 

lectures  on  Didactic  Theology  shall  be  delivered.  And 
when  the  students  shall  arrive  at  the  third  or  Senior 
year,  the  Professor  shall  meet  them  daily,  and  they 
shall  receive,  in  addition  to  such  other  instruction  as 
he  may  give  them,  his  system  of  lectures  on  Polemic 
Theology,  and  shall  be  exercised  by  him  in  the  writ- 
ing of  theses  in  divinity,  as  he  shall  from  time  to  time 
assign  them :  Provided,  always,  that  the  Professor 
shall  be  careful  to  examine  the  students  in  such  way 
as  he  shall  judge  most  advisable,  upon  the  substance 
of  every  lecture  delivered  by  him. 

4.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Professor  to  direct  the 
attention  of  the  students  to  the  reading  of  such  works, 
on  the  several  subjects,  as  they  occur  in  his  lectures, 
as  he  may  think  calculated  to  give  them  full  and  cor- 
rect information  in  relation  to  all  the  grand  doctrines 
embraced  in  the  system  of  theology,  and  he  shall, 
from  time  to  time,  satisfy  himself  that  these  works  are 
consulted  by  them. 

5.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Professor  to  prepare 
a  full  and  copious  system  of  questions  upon  all  the  sub- 
jects of  Didactic  and  Polemic  Theology,  which  the 
students  shall  be  obliged  to  answer  in  writing  at  their 
rooms,  and  at  their  leisure,  and  which  shall  form  the 
basis  of  their  examination  before  the  Board  of  Super- 
intendents.   Vol.  VI.,  p.  18. 

Sec.  II.    Recommendations  to  students, 

Besohed,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  students  of 
our  Seminary  to  study  the  claims  of  the  destitute  parts 
of  our  own  country,  as  well  as  of  the  world  at  large  ;  to 
consider  the  question  of  personal  duty  in  regard  to 
them ;  to  acquire  due  conceptions  of  the  amount  and 
forms  of  labor  requisite  in  given  fields  ;  to  spend  a  por- 


Sec.  3.  EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  69 

tion  of  their  vacations  in  colporteur  labors  ;  and  while 
oherishing  a  sturdy  spirit  of  endurance,  that  they  cul- 
tivate those  habits  of  study,  and  modes  of  address,  which 
will  facilitate  their  entrance  among  them.  Vol.  VII.,  p. 
427. 

Sec.  III.     Theological  Professors  guardians  of  young 
men  aided  hy  tJie  funds  of  the  Church. 

Resolved,  That  the  Theological  Professors  be  request- 
ed to  consider  themselves  guardians  of  all  young  men 
beneficiaries  of  the  Church,  watch  carefully  over  their 
conduct  and  life,  and  whenever  they  discover  censurable 
expenditure,  remissness  in  study,  lack  of  mental  or  re- 
ligious qualification,  they  make,  as  soon  as  practicable, 
a  report  to  the  Board  of  Education.     Vol.  VIII.,  p.  582. 

Sec.  IV.    Be-arrangement  of  Seminary  year. 

Resolved,  That  the  term  of  the  Theological  Seminary 
commence  on  the  twentieth  day  of  September,  to  con- 
tinue until  the  third  Tuesday  of  May,  with  an  interval 
of  eight  or  ten  days  at  the  Christmas  Holidays. 

Resolved,  That  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of 
Superintendents  be  held  on  the  third  Tuesday  of  May. 
Vol.  IX.,  p.  20. 

Sec.  V.    Memhers  'must  he  actuaMy  connected  icith  the 
Glasses  which  they  represent. 

Resolved,  That  no  person  can  be  entitled  to  a  seat  in 
the  Board  of  Superintendents  who  is  not  at  the  time  be- 
ing a  member  of  the  Classis  for  which  he  was  elected. 
Vol.  IX.,  p.  214. 

Sec.  VI.    A  yearly  detailed  report  of  every  student  to  be 
made. 
Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Superintendents  be  re- 


70  DIGEST.  Gh.  VII 

quested  to  adopt  some  plan  by  which  the  Professors  of 
the  Theological  Seminary  will  make  a  yearly  detailed 
report  to  the  Board  of  Superintendents  of  every  student 
in  the  Seminary  ;  and  that  they  be  authorized  to  have 
blank  reports  prepared  and  printed  for  this  purpose. 
Vol.  IX.,  p.  333. 

Sec.  VII.    Expenses  of  memhers  of  the  Board  to  be  paid 
by  their  Classes. 
Resolved,  That    ******    the  expenses  of 
the  Board  of  Superintendents  be  paid  by  their  respective 
Classes.     Vol.  IX.,  p.  342. 

Sec.  VIII.     Rules  icith  reference  to  students'  preaching. 

Resolved,  That  no  student  of  Theology  in  our  Semi- 
nary be  allowed  to  preach  or  lecture  in  any  of  our 
churches  and  congregations,  except  that  the  students 
of  the  Senior  class  be  allowed  to  deliver  their  own  dis- 
courses, under  the  direction  of  one  of  the  Professors  of 
Theology,  with  the  understanding  that  this  direction  is 
to  extend  to  the  time  when,  the  place  where,  and  the 
discourse  to  be  delivered ;  and  except  further,  that  stu- 
dents of  the  Senior  Class  be  allowed  the  same  privileges 
in  the  churches  of  which  they  are  members,  under  the 
direction  of  their  own  pastors,  the  direction  to  extend  as 
in  the  case  before  mentioned. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Superintendents,  at  their 
annual  meeting,  inquire  of  each  member  of  the  different 
Classes  whether  he  has  conformed  to  the  above  resolu- 
tion, and  embody  in  their  report  to  this  Synod  the  re- 
sult of  their  inquiries,  with  the  names  of  any  that  have 
exceeded  the  rule. 

Resolved,  That  the  Professors  of  Theology  be  re- 
quested to  discourage  all  preaching  of  students  of  The- 
ology previous  to  their  licensure. 


Sec.  i.        EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  71 

Besolved,  That  the  above  resolutions  are  not  intended 
to  abridge  the  liberty  or  interfere  with  the  duties  of  the 
students  as  private  members  of  the  Church  and  follow- 
ers of  the  Lord  Jesus,    Vol,  IX,,  pp.  345,  346. 

A.   {a.)   HERTZOG   HALL, 

Sec.  I.    Standing  Committee  appointed. 

Resolved,  That  a  Standing  Committee  on  the  Peter 
Hertzog  Theological  Hal]  be  appointed.  (See  Sec.  III., 
1  below.) 

Besolved,  That  this  Committee  shall  have  the  general 
charge  of  this  property,  to  keep  it  in  repair,  and  at- 
tend to  such  business  matters  as  may  be  necessary  for 
its  proper  preservation  ;  and  that  this  Committee  shall 
report  fully  at  each  stated  session  of  the  General  Synod. 

Besolved,  That  this  Committee  are  hereby  authorized 
and  requested  to  secure  such  additional  funds  as  may 
be  needed  to  accomplish  the  objects  of  the  Institution. 

Besolved,  That  the  expenditures  of  the  Peter  Hertzog 
Theological  Hall,  by  the  Committee  of  this  Synod  hav- 
ing the  same  in  charge,  shall  not  in  any  case  exceed  the 
amount  of  funds  actually  collected.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  215. 

Sec.  II.    Mnpowered  to  make  rules  for  the  regulation  of 
the  Hall.    In  case  of  difficidty  references  is  to  he  had 
to  the  Board  of  Superintendents.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  448. 
Sec!  III.     Continued  with  additional  regulations. 
Besolved,  That  the  Standing  Committee  on  the  Peter 
Hertzog  Theological  Hall,  appointed  in  1857,  and  then 
authorized  and  directed  to  secure  such  additional  funds 
as  may  be  needed  to  accomplish  the  objects  of  the  The- 
ological Institution,  shall  be  and  hereby  is   continued 
under  the  following  additional  regulations  : 


72  DIGEST.  Ch,  VII 

1.  The  Standing  Committee  on  the  Peter  Hertzog 
Theological  Hall  shall  consist  of  six*  members,  one  of 
whom  shall  be  appointed  by  the  Theological  Faculty 
from  their  own  number  each  year,  and  five  of  whom 
shall  be  laymen,  to  be  elected  by  General  Synod,  to  be 
divided  into  three  classes,  to  hold  office  respectively  one, 
two,  and  three  years. 

2.  This  Committee  shall  be  and  hereby  is  empowered 
whenever  in  their  judgment  it  becomes  necessary,  to 
appoint  a  financial  agent  or  agents  for  the  collection  of 
funds  for  the  endowment  and  support  of  the  Seminary, 
and  the  general  advocacy  of  the  interests  of  the  Theo- 
ogical  Seminary. 

3.  This  Committee  shall  pay  over  the  funds  collected 
by  them  to  the  Board  of  Direction,  except  so  much  as 
is  necessary  for  repairs  upon  the  buildings  and  appur- 
tenances from  year  to  year. 

4.  This  Committee  shall  hold  quarterly,  or,  if  neces- 
sary, more  frequent  meetings  at  New  Brunswick,  dur- 
ing the  term  time,  on  such  regular  and  fixed  days  as  it 
may  select. 

5.  This  Committee  shall  be  the  Executive  Committee 
of  the  Board  of  Superintendents  as  now  constituted, 
shall  report  annually  to  said  Board  at  its  annual  meet- 
ing for  the  examination  of  students,  and  shall  be  under 
the  general  direction  of  said  Board. 

6.  This  Committee  sliall  hold  a  joint  session  together 
with  the  Board  of  Superintendents,  at  the  annual  meet, 
ing  at  New  Brunswick,  for  the  full  consideration  of  the 
temporal  interests  of  the  Theological  school. 

7.  The  Board  of  Superintendents  shall  report  to  the 
General  Synod,  at  its  annual  sessions,  the  result  of  the 

*  Number  as  changed  by  Synod  in  1S68.    Vol.  XI    p.  645. 


Ssc.  1.        EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  73 

action  of  the  above  Oommittee,  under  tlie  above  regula- 
tions.   Vol.  XI.,  p.  478. 


B.   THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY   AT   HOLLAND. 

Sec.  I.    PreUmiiiary  arrangements. 

At  the  meeting  of  General  Synod  in  June,  1866,  there 
was  presented 

"  A  memorial  from  the  members  of  the  Senior  Class 
of  Hope  College,  respectfully  petitioning  the  General 
Synod  to  take  such  measures  as  may  enable  them  to  pur- 
sue their  theological  studies  at  their  present  institu- 
tion." 

On  this  application  Synod 

Besolved,  That  the  subject  be  referred  to  the  Board 
of  Education  and  the  Council  of  Hope  College,  with  in- 
struction that  leave  be  granted  to  pursue  their  theolog- 
ical studies  at  Hope  College,  provided  no  measures  shall 
be  instituted  by  which  additional  expense  shall  be 
thrown  upon  Synod  or  the  Board  of  Education  at  this 
time  ;  and  provided  further,  that  Synod  reserves  the 
right  to  withdraw  this  permission  at  any  time  that  it 
may  deem  expedient.    Vol.  XL,  pp.  96,  97. 

Sec.  IL    Council  of  Mope  College  to  act  as  Board  of  Su^ 
perintendenis. 

Besolved,  That  the  Council  of  Hope  College  be  and 
the  same  is  hereby  constituted  and  appointed  the  Board 
of  Superintendents  of  the  Theological  School  in  Hope 
College,  with  duties  and  prerogatives  like  those  of  the 
Board  of  Supeiinteiideuts  ©f  ihe  Theological  School  at 
New  Brunswick.    Vol.  XI.,  p.  647. 


74  DIGEST.  Oh.  VII 

C.   RUTGERS  COLLEGE. 

Sec.  I.    Artidesof  Agreement  between  Synod  and  Trus- 
tees modified.    Vol.  VII.,  p.  418. 

Sec.  II.  Board  of  Direction  empoicered  to  convey  title 
to  College  property  at  New  Brunsmckto  Trustees- 
Vol.  X.,  p.  471. 

Sec.  III.  Synod  relinquishes  the  nomination  and  a/p- 
pointment  of  Professor  of  Theology,  provided  it  does 
not  interfere  with  contract  in  relation  to  moneys 
made  up  for  salary.    Vol.  X.,  p.  638. 

Sec.  IV.    Synod  informed  that  Board  of  Trustees  ac- 
cedes to  above.    Vol.  XI.,  p.  265. 

D.  hope  college. 

Sec.  I.    Holland  Academy  taken  under  the  care  of  the 
Synod.    Vol.  VIII.,  p.  363. 

Sec.  II.     Title  of  property  confirmed  to  Synod. 

No.  64.  (House )   ) 
State  op  Michigan,  1863. ) 

"  The  People  of  tlie  State  of  Michigan  enact  that  the 
General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Protestant  Dutch 
Church,  a  body  corporate  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of 
New  York,  is  hereby  authorized  and  shall  have  the  ca- 
pacity to  have,  receive,  hold,  and  enjoy  by  gift,  grant 
purchase,  devise,  or  other  legal  or  equitable  form  of 
conveyance,  the  real  estate  and  premises  in  the  County 
of  Ottawa  and  State  of  Michigan,  known  as  the  Holland 
Academy,  and  the  grounds  connected  therewith,  for  the 
purposes  of  said  Academy,  and  their  appurtenances  ; 
and  the  sale  of  said  property  heretofore  made  to  said 


Sec.  3.       EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  75 

Churcli  is  confirmed.  And,  also,  any  other  real  estate 
that  may  he  conveyed  to  said  corporation  for  education- 
al purposes. 

Provided,  that  said  corporation  shall  not  continue  to 
hold  any  real  estate  in  this  State,  not  actually  occupied 
by  it  in  the  exercise  of  its  franchises,  for  a  longer  period 
than  ten  years."     Vol.  X.,  p.  253. 

Sec.  III.    Plcm  of  support  and  superusion. 

TITLE  OF  THE  PROPERTY. 

This  is  now  confirmed  by  an  act  of  the  Legislature  of 
Michigan,  as  invested  in  the  General  Synod  for  educa. 
tional  purposes.  Hence  arises  the  obligation  of  the  Sy- 
nod to  provide  means  to  meet  all  such  expenditure  as 
may  become  needful  in  the  preservation  and  manage- 
ment of  the  property. 

THE   FUTURE  SUPPORT   OF   THE   ACADEIMT 

Must  claim  the  care  of  General  Synod,  and  until  it  can 
be  sustained  by  more  permanent  endowments,  must  be 
supported  by  such  adequate  though  temporary  expe- 
dients as  Synod  may  devise. 

It  is  proposed  that  for  the  present  and  until,  by  en- 
dowment or  otherwise,  the  academy  may  become  self- 
sustaining,  that  the  salary  of  the  Principal,  Professors 
and  teachers  be  provided  for  through  or  by  the  Board 
of  Education. 

That,  so  long  as  this  arrangemeat  or  dependence  may 
continue,  the  Board  of  Education  shall  have  the  ap- 
pointment^of  the  Principal,  Professors  and  teachers. 

PLAN  OF  SUPERINTENDENCE  IN  A  BOARD  OF  SUPER- 
INTENDENTS. 

In  order  to  a  more  eflficient  supervision  of  the  Acad- 


76  DIGEST.  .  Ch.VII 

emy  and  the  increase  of  its  usefulness  and  influence, 
the  Particular  Synod  of  Chicago  shall  nominate  and 
the  General  Synod  shall  appoint  a  Board  of  Superin- 
tendents, composed  of  at  least  tioo  ministers  and  one 
elder  from  each  of  the  Classes  of  the  Particular  Synod 
of  Chicago.  Of  this  Board,  the  Secretary  of  the  Board 
of  Education,  and  the  Principal  of  the  Academy,  shall 
be  ex-officio  members. 

THE  OFFICERS   OF  THE  BOARD 

Shall  be  a  President,  Secretary,  Treasurer,  who  shall 
be  annually  chosen  by  ballot. 

TERM  OF   SERVICE. 

At  the  first  meeting  of  the  Board  the  requisite  steps 
shall  be  taken  to  divide  the  members  into  three  classes 
to  serve  one,  two,  and  three  years  respectively. 

EXTENT  OF  CONTROL. 

The  supervision  of  this  Board  shall  be  to  attend  the 
annual  examination,  and  make  a  report  concerning  it  ; 
to  examine  the  Academy  accounts,  and  have  a  general 
care  of  the  interests  of  the  institution  ;  and,  so  soon  as 
the  dependence  of  the  Academy  upon  the  Board  of  Ed- 
ucation shall  cease,  such  supervision  shall  extend  to  all 
matters  pertaining  to  the  Academy  ;  such  as  the  ap- 
pointment of  teachers,  regulating  their  salaries,  and 
causing  them  to  be  paid,  the  course  of  instruction,  ex- 
aminations, repairs,  alterations,  and  improvements  of 
the  buildings  used  for  educational  purposes,  the  use 
and  cultivation  of  the  grounds. 

REPORT  TO   SYNOD. 

The  Board  of  Superintendents  shall  annually  report 


Sec.  4.        EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  77 

to  General  Synod  their  proceedings  during  tlie  year, 
and  append  to  tlie  same  the  account  of  the  Treasurer 
of  the  Academy,  duly  audited,  and  the  names  of  the 
members  whose  term  of  oflBice  is  about  to  expire, 

QUORUM. 

A  quorum,  for  the  transaction  of  business,  shall  con- 
sist of  five  members. 

SPECIAL  MEETINGS 

Of  the  Board  of  Superintendents  may  be  called  by  the 
President,  or  he  shall  call  the  same  on  the  written  ap- 
plication of  two  of  its  members. 

WAYS  AND  MEANS. 

That  the  Academy  may  be  placed  on  a  permanent 
basis,  the  Board  of  Superintendents  are  requested  im- 
mediately to  initiate  measures  for  its  endowment  in  the 
sum  of  $30,000.  The  fimds  which  may  be  raised  for 
the  endowment,  shall  be  paid  over  to  the  Board  of  Di- 
rection of  General  Synod,  and  by  it,  safely  invested  for 
the  exclusive  benefit  of  the  Institution,  The  interest 
accruing  from  the  endowment  fund  shall  be  used  for 
the  payment  of  the  salaries  of  the  professors  or  teach- 
ers, and  for  contingent  expenses.  The  tuition  fees  and 
incidental  expenses  shall  be  fixed  by  the  Board  of  Su- 
perintendents, and  the  proceeds  shall  be  used  by  them 
for  the  benefit  of  the  Institution,    Vol,  X.,  pp,  320-321- 

Sec,  IV,    Endowment  as  a  College  directed. 

Resolved,  That,  as  speedily  as  possible,  Holland  Acad- 
emy should  be  endowed  as  a  first-class  College  in  the 
West.    Vol,  X„  p.  466. 


78  DIGEST.  Ch.  VII 

Sec.  V.    Arrangement  for  securing  a  College  Charter. 

Besolved,  That  in  order  to  enable  tlie  Board  of  Su- 
perintendents of  the  Holland  Academy  to  obtain  a  Col- 
lege Charter,  under  the  law  of  the  State  of  Michigan, 
when  they  shall  have  obtained  subscriptions  in  good 
faith  to  the  amount  of  $30,000,  with  twenty  per  cent, 
thereon  paid  in  to  the  Board  of  Direction,  they  shall '; 
receive  from  the  Board  of  Direction  a  proper  instrument,  ' 
donating  to  them  the  said  subscribed  amount  of  thirty 
thousand  dollars.  And,  that  by  this  act  of  General 
Synod,  the  Board  of  Direction  is  instructed  and  empow- 
ered  to  prepare  and  deliver  such  instrument.  Pro- 
vided, however,  that  the  said  instrument  shall  contain 
such  covenants  and  conditions  between  the  Board  of 
Superintendents  of  the  Holland  Academy  and  the  Gen- 
eral Synod,  that  all  the  rights  and  interests  of  the  Gen- 
eral Synod,  as  acknowledged  in  the  existing  relations 
between  them,  shall  be  and  remain  undisturbed.  Vol. 
X.,  p.  484. 

Sec.  VI.    Ya^ancies  during  intervals  of  Synod. 

ResoUed,  That  the  Board  of  Superintendents  of  our 
Western  College  have  power  to  fill  vacancies  occurring 
in  its  numbers  during  the  intervals  of  Synod.  Vol.  X., 
p.  623. 

Sec.  VII.    President  to  make  a  swpplenfientary   report 
to  Synod. 

Resolved,  Inasmuch  as  the  Board  of  Superintendents 
of  our  Western  College  meets  after  the  yearly  session 
of  General  Synod,  and  thus  its  report  presents  a  state- 
ment nearly  a  year  old,  that  the  President  of  said  Col- 
lege be  requested  to  supplement  the  above-named  re- 


Sec.  8.         EDUCATION  A.L  INSTITUTIONS.  79 

port  with  sucli  additional  information  as  shall  furnish 
to  the  General  Synod  a  statement  of  the  condition  of 
said  College  for  th?  current  year.    Vol.  X.,  p.  623. 

Sec.  VIII.    Articles  of  Incor^poration. 

Articles  of  Association  for  tlie  Incorporation  of  Hope 
College  at  Holland,  in  Ottawa  County,  in  the  State 
of  Michigan. 

We,  the  undersigned,  associate  together  to  become  a 
Corporation  for  the  purpose  of  founding  and  establish- 
ing a  College  under  the  laws  of  the  State  of  Michigan, 
entitled  "  An  Act  to  provide  for  the  Incorporation  of 
Institutions  of  Learning,"  approved  February  9th,  1855, 
and  of  the  acts  amended  thereto. 

The  name  of  the  Institution  is  Hope  College.  The 
Trustees  and  their  successors  are  to  be  a  body  corporate, 
and  their  corporate  name  is  "  The  Coimcil  of  Hope  Col- 
lege." 

The  location  of  the  College  and  the  Corporation  is  at 
Holland,  in  Ottawa  County,  in  the  State  of  Michigan. 

The  character  and  object  of  the  College  and  of  the 
Corporation  are  to  provide  the  usual  literary  and  scien- 
tific course  of  study,  in  connection  with  sound  evangeli- 
cal religious  instruction,  according  to  the  standard  of 
the  Reformed  Church,  as  based  on  the  Holy  Scriptures. 
Although  the  College  is  denominational  in  its  charac- 
ter, yet  students  shall  be  admitted  to  all  its  advantages 
without  reference  to  their  ecclesiastical  connections, 
subject  only  to  the  general  rules  and  regulations  of  the 
Institution, 

The  Trustees  or  Council  may,  at  their  option,  conduct 
a  Theological  Department  for  the  training  of  Mission- 
aries and  Ministers  of  the   Gospel,  and  also  a  Normal 


80  DIGEST.  Ch.  VII 

Department  for  the  training  of  teachers.  The  Gram- 
mar School,  composed  of  the  preparatory  classes,  shall 
remain  a  permanent  part  of  the  College,  under  the  su- 
pervision of  the  Council  of  the  College. 

The  amount  of  funds  on  capital  stock  donated  or  given 
to  the  Trustees  or  Council  for  the  said  College,  is  as 
follows : 

The  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church  in  Amer- 
ica, a  body  corporate  under  the  laws  of  New  York,  and 
authorized  to  hold  property  for  educational  purposes  in 
the  State  of  Michigan,  has  in  good  faith  and  in  due 
form  donated  or  given  to  the  said  Trustees  or  Council 
for  the  purpose  of  endowing  this  College,  the  sum  of 
thirty  thousand  dollars,  of  which  sum  six  thousand 
dollars  has  been  already  paid  to  the  Associates  or  Trus- 
tees for  the  use  of  this  College.  In  addition  to  this  the 
said  General  Synod  has  set  apart  for  the  use  and  pur- 
poses of  this  College  and  Incorporation,  the  real  estate 
and  premises  in  the  County  of  Ottawa  and  State  of 
Michigan,  known  as  the  Holland  Academy.  And  more- 
over, the  said  General  Synod,  as  a  body  corporate,  holds 
in  express  trust  for  this  Corporation  and  College  (inde- 
pendent of  the  aforesaid  thirty-thousand  dollars,  already 
donated  and  heretofore  set  forth),  in  subscriptions,  prom- 
issory notes,  and  cash,  twenty  thousand  dollars,  and 
which  sum  is  from  time  to  time  becoming  increased  by 
donations. 

The  following  are  the  names  and  places  of  residence 
of  the  Trustees,  and  the  length  of  time  of  their  continu- 
ance in  oflBce : 

Philip  Phelps,  Jr.,  Holland,  Ottawa  County,  Michi- 
gan, exofficio  member  as  President  of  the  College,  while 
President,  but  not  to  exceed  30  years. 

John  L.  See,  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  ex  officio 


Sec.  8.        EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  81 

member  as  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board  of 
Education,  R.  C.  A.,  while  such  Secretary,  but  not  to 
exceed  30  years. 

John  Mason  Ferris,  Flatbush,  Long  Island,  New 
York,  until  September  1st,  186G. 

Solomon  Cummings,  Centreville,  Michigan,  until  Sep- 
tember Ist,  1867. 

Samuel  James  Rogers,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  until  Septem- 
ber 1st,  1868. 

Schuyler  Colfax,  South  Bend,  Indiana,  until  Septem- 
ber 1st,  1869. 

John  S.  Joralmon,  Fairview,  111.,  until  September  Ist, 
1865. 

John  N.  Rogers,  Davenport,  Iowa,  imtil  September 
1st,  1867. 

Cyrus  G.  Van  Der  Veer,  Davenport,  Iowa,  until  Sep- 
tember 1st,  1868. 

Edward  P.  Livingston,  Bushnell,  111.,  until  Septem- 
ber 1st.,  1869. 

Seine  Bolks,  Zeeland,  Michigan,  until  September  1st, 
1866. 

Hessel  O.  Yntema,  Vriesland,  Michigan,  until  Sep- 
tember 1st,  1867. 

Peter  J,  Oggel,  Holland,  Michigan,  until  September 
1st,  1868. 

Arie  Cz  Kuyper,  Pella,  Iowa,  until  September  1st., 
1869. 

N.  D.  Williamson, ,  until  September  1st, 

1866. 

Jacob  Van  Zanten,  Low  Prairie,  111.,  until  September 
1st,  1867. 

John  Van  Der  Meulen,  Milwaukee,  Wia.,  until  Sep- 
tember Ist,  1868. 


83  DIGEST.  Ch.  VII 

Roelof  Pieters,  Alto,  Wisconsin,  until  September  1st, 
1869. 

Tlie  manner  in  whicli  the  succession  of  Trustees  sliall 
be  secured,  and  the  successers  of  the  present  Trustees 
elected,  is  as  follows  : 

The  person  appointed  as  President  of  the  College, 
while  he  continues  to  hold  such  office  as  President,  shall 
be  eos-officio  one  of  the  Trustees  or  Council  of  the  Col- 
lege. The  person  who  holds  the  situation  of  Corres- 
ponding Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  while  he  continues  to  hold  such  office, 
shall  be  ex-officio  one  of  such  Trustees  or  Council. 

The  Particular  Synod  of  Chicago  (hereinafter  de- 
scribed), shall  appoint  one  permanent  member  of  said 
Board  of  Trustees  or  Council,  who  shall  hold  his  office 
for  thirty  years,  provided  his  ecclesiastical  relations  to 
said  Synod  shall  so  long  continue.  But  if  those  rela- 
tions close,  his  office  shall  be  vacated,  and  the  Synod 
may  appoint  a  successor  to  him  on  the  like  terms  and 
conditions. 

The  other  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  or  Coun- 
cil (not  exceeding  in  the  aggregate,  with  the  above 
designated  President  and  Secretary  and  permanent 
membeis.  the  number  of  thirty-five),  shall  be  chosen  by 
appointment  and  confirmation  of  the  General  Synod  of 
the  Reformed  Church,  on  nomination  of  the  Particular 
Synod  of  Chicago,  the  latter  being  an  ecclesiastical 
body  constituted  under  the  Constitution  and  Laws  of 
the  said  Reformed  Church, 

It  is  composed  of  representatives  of  several  Classes, 
.being  an  inferior  ecclesiastical  organization  of  said 
Church. 

The  Council  of  Hope  College  is  to  be  constituted  from 
four  members  of  each  of  the  Classes  belonging  to  said 


Sec.  8.        EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS.  83 

Particular  Synod.  So  long  as  the  number  of  said  Clas- 
ses shall  not  exceed  eight,  the  Council  is  to  be  consti 
tuted  of  four  members  from  each  of  them,  the  full  term 
of  office  of  each  member  being  four  years. 

They  are  to  be  divided  into  four  parties  or  sets,  so 
that  one  fourth  of  the  whole  number  may  go  out  of 
office  each  year.  Vacancies  occurring  in  the  intervals 
of  the  meetings  of  the  Synod,  so  that  they  cannot  be 
filled  by  nomination  and  appointment  as  herein  pro- 
vided, may  be  filled  by  the  Council.  And  the  acting 
members  of  the  Council  shall  continue  to  be  Trustees 
imtil  the  appointment  shall  be  made  as  herein  pro- 
vided. 

In  case  the  number  of  Classes  shall  be  increased,  so 
that  the  selection  of  four  members  from  each  of  them 
shall  in  the  aggregate  exceed  the  number  of  thirty-two, 
then  said  Particular  Synod  may  apportion  the  members 
among  the  several  Classes  in  their  discretion,  so  as  to 
reach  and  not  exceed  the  number  of  thirty-two. 

Under  the  foregoing  Articles,  we,  the  undersigned, 
do  hereby  associate  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  corpo- 
ration under  the  name  and  for  the  objects  aforesaid. 
Philip  Phelps.  Jr.,  John  L.  See, 

A.  C.  Van  Raalte,  Schuyler  Colfax, 

P.  J.  Oggel,  John  Mason  Ferris, 

S.  Bolks,  A.  C.  Kuyper, 

Hessel  0.  Yntema,  J.  S.  Joralmon, 

C.  G.  Van  Der  Veer,  N.  D.  Williamson, 

E.  P.  Livingston,  Solomon  Cummings. 

R.  Pieters,  Samuel.  J.  Rogers, 

J.  Van  Zanten. 

State  of  New  York,  {    ^^  . 

City  and  County  of  New  York,      \ 

Albertus  C.  Van  Raalte,  Philip  Phelps,  Jr.,  and  John 


84  DIGEST.  Gh.  VII 

Mason  Ferris,  three  of  tlie  subscribers  to  the  above  ar- 
ticles of  association,  do  eacli  for  ourselves  swear  that 
tlie  amount  of  stock,  thirty  thousand  dollars,  mentioned 
in  the  foregoing  articles  of  association,  has  been  in  good 
faith  subscribed  for  such  College,  and  that  twenty  per 
cent.,  namely  six  thousand  dollars,  thereof  has  been 
paid  in,  in  cash. 

A.  C.  VAN  RAALTE, 
PHILir  PHELPS,  Jr., 
JOHN  MASON  FERRIS. 

Sworn  to  this  36th  day  of  April,  1866,  before  me, 
JULIUS  M.  POMEROY, 
[L.L.]  Commissioner  of  Michigan  in  New  York. 

State  of  Michigan,  } 

Office  of  the  Secretary  of  State,     \    **•  '* 

I,  George  H.  Hanse,  Deputy  Secretary  of  the 
State  of  Michigan,  do  hereby  certify  that  I  have  com- 
pared the  annexed  copy  of  the  Articles  of  Association  of 
the  "  Hope  College "  with  the  original,  filed  in  this 
office  May  14th,  1866,  and  that  it  is  a  correct  transcript 
therefrom,  and  of  the  whole  of  such  original. 

In  testimony  whereof,  I  have  hereunto  set  my  hand 

and  affixed  the  Great  Seal  of  the 

Great  Seal  of     gtate  of  Michigan,  at  Lansing, 

Michigan  ^^^^  fourteenth  day  of  May,  in  the 

(1835).  y^sar  of  our  Lord  one  thousand 

eight  hundred  and  sixty-six. 


GEORGE  H  HANSE, 

Deputy  Secreta/ry  of  State 


stamp) 
5ctB.   C 


Sec.  9.  FUNDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  85 

Sec.  IX.     Changes  in  arrangement  of  Council  agreed 
to.    Vol.  XI.,  p.  90. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

FUNDS  OP  THE  CHURCH. 

Treasurer's  Digest  is  annually  published  in  the  Min- 
utes of  General  Synod. 

Sec.  I.    Means  of  meeting  Deficiency. 

Resolved,  Tliat  the  amount  necessary  to  be  raised  in 
order  to  meet  such  deficiency  as  there  may  be  in  the 
revenues  of  Synod,  be  hereafter  assessed  directly  by 
the  General  Synod  upon  the  Classes,  and  that  the  Trea- 
surer transmit  to  the  General  ^>ynod  an  estimate  of  the 
amount  necessary  to  be  raised,  whith  document  shall 
be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  Committee  on  the  Board 
of  Direction,  who  shall  make  the  apportionment,  and 
present  the  same  to  the  Synod  for  adoption,  which  Sy- 
nodical  assessment  shall  be  transmitted  by  the  Stated 
Clerk  to  the  several  Classes.     Vol.  XL,  p.  414. 

A.    widows'  fund. 

Sec.  I.    Plan  of  the  Fund  as  amended. 

1.  The  Fund  shall  be  called  "  The  Fund  for  the 
Relief  of  Disabled  Ministers,  and  the  Widows  and  Chil- 
dren of  Ministers  of  the  Reformed  Cliurch,"  and 
shall  be  administered  by  the  Board  of  Corporation 
of  the  General  Synod  of  said  Church,  during  the  pleas- 
ure and  under  the  control  of  the  General  Synod. 

2.  Every  minister  of  the  Reformed  Church  may  se- 
cure a  full  interest  in  the  Fund,  by  the  payment  of  $20 

C* 


86  DIGEST.  Ch.  VIII 

annually.  Payments  of  ten  dollars,  or  five  dollars,  an- 
nually, shall  entitle  subscribers  to  a  proportionate  bene- 
fit from  the  Fund.  Neglect  of  payment  for  one  year 
to  be  a  forfeiture  of  privilege.  Interest,  however,  shall 
at  all  times  be  required  after  six  months.  Payments 
at  one  time,  of  a  sum,  the  interest  of  which,  at  four 
per  cent,  per  annum,  shall  amount  to  twenty  dollars, 
or  to  ten  dollars,  or  five  dollars  per  annum,  shall  give 
a  claim  upon  the  Fund  in  the  same  manner  as  if  those 
amounts  were  paid  annually ;  and,  in  this  case,  the 
amount  of  the  original  payment  may,  at  the  death  or 
disability  of  the  minister,  be  withdrawn,  without  im- 
pairing the  right  of  benefit  from  the  Fund.  Ministers 
interested  in  the  Fund,  by  the  payment  of  an 
annual  subscription,  shall  be  at  liberty  to  relinquish 
such  interest  by  ceasing  to  make  such  annual  payment ; 
and  they,  as  well  as  those  who  have  heretofore  ceased 
to  make  such  payments,  shall  be  entitled  to  receive 
seventy  five  per  cent,  of  the  amount  paid  by  them, 
without  interest,  by  giving  notice  to  the  Treasurer  nine 
months  prior  to  the  thirtieth  day  of  April  in  each  year, 
provided  the  amounts  so  to  be  paid  shall  not,  in  the 
aggregate,  exceed  one-half  of  the  income  of  the  cur- 
rent year  ;  in  which  case  one-half  of  such  income  shall 
be  distributed  pro  rata  among  the  applicants,  and  the 
balance  due  them  shall  be  included  among  the  applica- 
tions for  payments  to  be  made  at  the  close  of  the  next 
fiscal  year.  Ministers  who  have  made  a  payment  of  a 
principal  sum,  as  above  provided,  may  withdraw  the 
amount  of  money  actually  paid  by  them,  without  inter- 
est, by  giving  nine  months  notice  to  the  Treasurer 
prior  to  the  thirtieth  day  of  April  in  any  year,  and 
shall  be  entitled  then  to  receive  the  same  from  the 
principal  of  the  ^^'und.    Ministers  leaving  our  Church 


Sec.  1  FUNDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  87 

shall  be  subjected  to  tlie  same  rule  in  the  withdrawal 
of  their  subscriptions. 

3.  One-half  of  the  annual  payments  by  Ministers, 
and  donations,  when  so  specially  directed  by  the  donor, 
shall  be  considered  income ;  the  other  half  of  the  an- 
nual pajnnents  by  Ministers,  all  other  donations,  and 
the  collections  in  the  Churches  shall  be  considered  prin- 
cipal, and  the  interest  only  used  as  income.  There 
shall  also  be  added  to  the  principal,  at  the  close  of  each 
fiscal  year,  out  of  the  income,  a  sum  equal  to  three  per 
cent,  of  the  principal  sums  standing  to  the  credit  of 
individual  Ministers,  in  consequence  of  payments  made 
by  them  under  the  provisions  of  paragraph  two.  Con- 
sistories or  individuals  may,  at  their  pleasure,  direct 
their  contributions,  collections  and  donations,  to  apply 
in  whole  or  in  part  to  the  credit  of  any  minister  they 
may  designate ;  but  in  such  cases  the  same  shall  be 
considered  as  principal,  and  not  thereafter  withdrawn, 
unless  otherwise  directed  at  the  time  of  payment. 

4.  No  money  belonging  to  this  Fund  shall  bo  loaned 
(except  on  temporary  loan  with  collateral  security)  un- 
less secured  by  bond  and  mortgage  on  real  estate.  The 
moneys  belonging  to  this  Fund  shall  be  kept  separate 
and  distinct  from  all  other  funds  of  Synod. 

5.  The  ofi&cers  of  the  Board  of  Cori)oration  shall  be 
the  oflBcers  of  the  trust — the  Treasurer's  duty  shall  be 
to  collect  the  income  and  make  all  payments.  He  shall 
report  minutely  and  fully  to  General  Synod  at  eaeh  of 
its  annual  meetings ;  his  accounts  to  be  audited  by  a 
committee  of  the  Board  of  Corporation. 

6.  The  maximum  amount  to  be  paid  to  parties  inter- 
ested in  the  Fund  shall  he — to  a  minister  disabled  by 
sickness  or  age,  two  hundred  dollars  per  annum ;  to  the 
•widow  of  a  deceased  minister,  two  hundred  dollars  per- 


88  DIGEST.  Ch.  VIII 

annum  ;  to  children  of  clergymen,  botli  whose  parents 
havp  deceased,  seventy-five  dollars  per  annum,  each, 
until  they  attain  the  age  of  sixteen  years.  Should  the 
income,  upon  due  experiment,  be  found  to  admit  it,  this 
maximum  may  hereafter  be  increased.  When  but  one 
payment  bas  been  made,  the  maximum  of  the  annuity 
allowed  sball  be  seventy-five  dollars.  When  two  an- 
nual payments  have  been  made,  tbe  maximmn  annuity 
allowed  sball  be  one  hundred  dollars.  When  three  an- 
nual payments  bave  been  made,  ihe  maximum  annuity 
shall  be  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  When  four  an- 
nual payments  bave  been  made,  the  maximum  annuity 
shall  be  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  dollars  ;  and 
where  payments  have  been  made  for  five  years  and  up- 
wards, the  maximum  annuity  shall  be,  as  above  stated, 
two  hundred  dollars — the  widows  and  children  of  such 
to  receive  respectively  according  to  this  graduation. 

As  long  as  the  income  is  suflBcient  to  pay  each  claim- 
ant the  maximum  annuity,  the  maximum  shall  be  al- 
lowed ;  but  should  the  income  not  be  suflacient,  then 
the  whole  income  shall  be  divided  among  the  claimants 
in  proportion  to  their  claims. 

It  is  expressly  understood  that  in  all  the  above  cases, 
to  entitle  the  applicants  to  their  annuities,  the  pay- 
ments of  subscriptions  must  be  continued  regularly 
until  they  cease  by  the  operation  of  the  principles 
herein  contained. 

7.  A  widow  of  a  minister  contracting  marriage,  for- 
feits her  claim  to  the  annuity — but  in  such  case  the 
children  under  sixteen  years  of  age  shall  be  entitled  to 
their  annuities,  as  though  both  parents  had  deceased. 

8.  In  disbursing  the  income  of  the  Fund,  where  a 
minister  id  the  applicant,  he  shall  be  required  to  pro- 
duce a  certificate  from  his  Classis,  or  other  satisfactory 


Sec.  2.  FUNDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  89 

evidence,  declaring  that  by  reason  of  sickness,  old  age, 
or  other  providential  cause,  he  is  incapable  of  service. 

Where  a  widow  is  an  applicant,  like  satisfactory  evi- 
dence of  the  decease  of  her  husband,  and  the  date  there- 
of, shall  be  required. 

When  children,  both  whose  parents  have  deceased, 
are  concerned,  like  evidence  of  the  death  of  their  par- 
ents, and  of  their  own  age,  shall  be  required. 

9.  The  pajTiients  to  annuitants  shall  be  made  half 
yearly  ;  to  ministers,  commencing  with  the  date  of 
their  incapacity  for  service  ;  to  widows,  from  the  death 
of  their  husban<ls ;  and  to  children,  from  the  death  of 
their  last  surviving  parent. 

The  Treasurer's  books,  on  authentic  vouchers,  shall 
furnish  the  evidence  of  the  payment  of  subscriptions. 

Annuitants  shall  be  admitted  to  the  benefit  of  the 
Fund  by  a  vote  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Fund,  or  a  com- 
mittee specially  appointed  for  that  purpose. 

10.  Alterations  may  be  made  in  the  rules  relating  to 
the  general  management  of  the  Fund,  by  a  vote  of  two- 
thirds  of  the  paying  subscribers  thereto  ;  but  the  plan, 
in  its  essential  principles  relating  to  a  civil  compact  be- 
tween each  subscriber  and  the  General  Synod,  as  the 
contracting  parties,  cannot  be  altered  without  the  con- 
sent of  every  paying  subscriber. 

11.  These  rules  are  adopted  and  confirmed  by  Synod, 
as  the  system  for  the  management  of  the  Widows' 
Fund.    Vol.  X.,  pp.  497-500. 

Sec.  II.     Classes  to  induce  Churches  to  secure  an  interest 
for  their  pastors. 

Resolved,  That  the  different  Classes  be  requested  to 
adopt  measures  to  induce  the  churches  under  their  care 
to  appropriate  the  regular  annual  sum  to  secure  their 


90  DIGEST.  Ch.  VIII 

respective  pastors  an  interest  in  the  fund.     Vol.  VIII., 
p.  610. 

Sec.  III.    Classes  to  appoint  a  member  to  solicit  supscrip- 
tions  or  collections. 

BesoUed,  That  each  Clasiss  be  directed  to  appoint 
one  of  its  members  to  solicit  subscriptions  or  collections 
for  the  Widows'  Fund  within  the  bounds  of  such 
Classis,  either  by  personal  interviews  with  Consistories, 
or  by  preaching  upon  the  subject ;  and  that  the  person 
so  appointed  be  considered  an  officer  of  General  Synod 
to  act  in  this  behalf.     Vol.  X.,  p.  204. 

Sec.  IV.     Glasses  to  carry  out  plan  of  agencies  for. 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  enjoin  upon  all  the  Classes 
under  their  care  to  carry  out  the  plan  of  Classical  agen- 
cies in  behalf  of  the  Widows'  Fund,  adopted  in  1863, 
with  all  practicable  promptness  and  fidelity,  and  ear- 
nestly commend  the  Fund  to  the  Churches.  Vol.  X.,  p. 
496. 

B.      DISABLED  MINISTEES'  FUND. 

Sec.  I.    Plan  of  the  Fund. 

1.  The  Fund  shall  be  called  "  The  Disabled  Min- 
isters' Fund  of  the  Reformed  Church,"  and  shall 
be  administered  by  the  Board  of  Corporation  of 
the  Genera]  Synod  of  said  Church,  during  the  pleasure 
and  under  the  control  of  General  Synod. 

2.  The  Board  of  Direction  shall  keep  securely  in- 
vested such  contributions  as  by  the  special  direction  of 
the  donors  are  to  be  kept  as  principal,  and  the  interest 
only  to  be  used. 

3.  Should  there  be  at  any  time  more  money  belong- 
ing to  the  Fund  than  may  be  immediately  required,  the 


Sec.  1.  FUNDS  OF  THE  CHURCH.  91 

same  shall  be  deposited  on  interest  in  the  New  York 
Life  Insurance  and  Trust  Company,  or  in  tlie  United 
States  Trust  Company,  in  the  city  of  New  York  ;  or  it 
may  be  loaned  on  the  stocks  of  the  City,  or  State  of 
New  York,  or  of  the  United  States. 

4  The  Fund,  with  the  income  of  that  part  of  it 
which,  in  accordance  with  special  donations,  is  to  be 
kept  invested,  shall  be  used  for  the  support  of  disabled 
ministers,  and  the  families  of  deceased  ministers,  when 
such  may  he  in  need. 

5.  Applications  for  aid  must  be  accompanied  by  a 
satisfactory  recommendation  from  the  Classis  to  which 
the  applicant  belongs,  certified  by  the  clerk  thereof,  and 
stating  the  amount  needed. 

6.  The  Board  of  Direction  are  authorized  to  make 
grants  on  such  applications,  and  it  shall  present  a  full 
report  of  the  receipts,  disbursements,  and  proceedings 
of  the  Board,  with  a  statement  of  the  Fund,  and  the 
treasurer's  account  duly  audited,  each  year,  to  the  Gen- 
eral Synod. 

7.  The  treasurer  shall  take  charge  of  the  money  aa 
received,  and  make  all  payments. 

8.  The  Classes  are  requested  to  take  proper  steps  to 
give  effect  to  the  action  of  the  General  Synod  on  this 
subject. 

9.  All  of  the  Churches  under  the  care  of  the  General 
Synod  are  requested  to  take  up  a  collection  yearly  for 
the  Fund.    Vol.  X.,  pp.  271-272. 

C.   CHTIRCH  BUILDrNG  FUND. 

Sec,  I.  Plan  of  the  Fund. 

1.  All  benevolent  Funds  for  Church  Building  pur- 
poses, however  raised,  shall  be  paid  into  the  hands  of 


92  DIGEST.  Ch.  VIII 

the  Treasurer  of  General  Synod,  and  shall  be  held  by 
the  Board  of  Corporation  as  a  Church  Building  Fund, 
and  shall  be  dispensed  by  the  Board  of  Domestic  Mis- 
sions at  its  discretion, 

2.  Applications  for  aid  from  this  Fund  shall  be  made 
to  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  under  recommenda- 
tion of  Classis,  and  the  amount  required  stated,  as  also 
the  amount  to  be  raised  by  the  people  asking  such  as- 
sistance. 

3-  A  first  bond  and  mortgage  shall  be  executed  by 
the  Board  of  Corporation,  to  be  made  payable  in  one 
year  by  any  Church  receiving  an  appropriation.  The 
interest  thereon  may  be  remitted  at  the  discretion  of 
the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  and  in  case  of  such 
remission,  the  Church  shall  make  a  yearly  collection 
for  the  Fund ;  and  every  Church  aided  shall  be  expect- 
ed to  pay  back  the  aid  received  as  soon  as  practicable. 

4.  No  Church  shall  be  aided  which  would  have  a 
debt  remaining  after  receiving  assistance  from  this 
Fund. 

5.'  An  annual  collection  shall  be  solicited  from  all  the 
Churches  towards  this  Fund.     Vol.  X..  pp.  201-202. 

Besolvedt  That  the  Building  Fund  of  the  Church,  and 
all  future  contributions  thereto,  be  committed  to  and 
received  by  the  Treasurer  of  the  Board  of  Domestic  Mis- 
sions, and  that  the  future  disposition  of  that  fund,  and 
all  investments  thereof,  be  made  by  and  under  the  di- 
rection of  that  Board,  subject  to  the  rules  and  regula- 
tions now  in  force  touching  its  investment  and  distribu- 
tion, wdth  this  modification,  that  the  amount  of  advances 
and  the  time  when  they  shall  be  made  to  Churches  in 
course  of  erection  be  in  the  discretion  of  the  Board,  to 
he  executed  by  them  in  view  of  all  the  circumstances 
surrounding  each  case  respectively,  the  Board  being 


Sec.  2.  CHURCH  GOVERNMENT.  93 

careful  to  take  the  accustomed  and  approved  security 
in  the  case  of  each  advance  as  heretofore  practiced  in 
the  administration  of  the  fund.     Vol.  XL,  p.  281. 

Sec.  II.    Moneys  solicited  for  Churches  &c.,  to  he  se- 
cured to  the  denomination. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  all  Churches 
which  shall  solicit  pecuniary  aid  for  the  erection  of 
church  edifices  and  parsonages  and  for  the  purchase  of 
land  or  other  property  for  Church  uses,  to  take  all 
proper  legal  measures  to  secure  such  property  to  the 
possession  of  the  Reformed  Church,  and  especially  to 
provide,  in  case  of  the  alienation  of  said  churches  from 
our  denomination,  that  the  amount  so  collected  from  in- 
dividuals and  congregations  of  the  Refomied  Church 
shall  be  returned  to  the  Board  of  Direction  of  the  Re- 
formed Church,  to  be  granted  by  them  upon  similar 
terms,  ^^dth  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Board  of  Do- 
mestic Missions,  for  the  erection  of  church  edifices  for 
needy  congregations,  under  the  care  of  said  Missionary 
Board. 

Resolved,  That  the  contributors  to  such  enterprises  be 
recommended  to  aflSx  the  same  terms  to  their  gifts. 
Vol.  IX.,  p.  575. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

CHURCH  GOVERNMENT. 

Sec.  I.     Order  of  Judicial  Business.      (See  Rules  of 
Order  of  General  Synod,  p.  21. 

Sec.  II.     Loxoer  judicatories  must  act  under  the  laws. 

Resolved,  That  every  inferior  judicatory  is  bound  to 


S4  DIGEST.  Ch.  IX 

act  under  the  laws  of  the  Church,  until  they  shall  have 
been  regularly  and  constitutionally  changed.  Vol.  V., 
p.  504. 

Sec.  III.     The  mode  of  dissolving  a  church  relation. 

It  is  an  established  principle  of  church  government, 
that  the  relation  subsisting  between  a  church  and  its 
members  can  be  dissolved  only  by  death  or  dismission, 
or  an  act  of  discipline.  Withdrawing  is,  therefore,  out 
of  the  question.     1824,  p.  46. 

Sec.  IV.     The  Synod  will  not  legislate  on  abstract  ques- 
tions. 

Application  for  advice  having  been  made  by  a  Classis, 
in  relation  to  a  certain  case,  the  Synod  declared  itself 
decidedly  of  the  opinion,  that  it  is  wholly  inexpedient 
to  legislate  upon  abstract  questions,  and  adopted  this 
resolution : 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  do  not  consider  it  proper 
to  express  their  opinion  in  the  case,  and  leave  the 
Classis  to  adopt  such  measures,  in  accordance  with  the 
discipline  of  the  Church,  as  in  their  wisdom  they  may 
think  proper.     1824,  p.  46. 

Sec.  V.    Ministers  and  members,  on  removing,  to  trans- 
fer their  relation  within  one  year. 

1.  Resolved,  That  it  be  enjoined  on  ministers  to 
transfer  their  Classical  relation  to  the  Classis  within 
whose  bounds  they  may  at  any  time  remove,  within 
one  year  after  the  time  of  such  removal. 

2.  Resolved,  That  it  be  enjoined  on  members  of  our 
Churches,  to  transfer  their  relation  to  the  Church  in  our 
connection  or  in  correspondence  with  us,  within  whose 
bounds  they  may  remove,  within  one  year  after  their 


Sec.  6.  CHURCH  GOVERNMENT.  96 

removal,  if  such  removal  place  them  from  under  the 
supervision  of  the  Church  of  their  previous  connection 
Vol.  HI.,  p.  363. 

Sec.  VI,    Deputati  Synodi. 

Resolved,  That  whenever  a  deputatus,  regularly  noti- 
fied, finds  himself  unable  to  attend,  that  he  be  bound 
to  give  notice  of  the  same,  as  soon  as  practicable,  to 
the  President  of  Classis.     Vol.  V.,  p.  59. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  enjoined  on  the  church  at  whoso 
call  the  Classis  shall  convene  to  attend  an  examination, 
to  pay  the  necessary  expenses  of  the  deputatus,  that 
this  consideration  may  not  operate  to  embarrass  him  in 
the  discharge  of  his  duty.  Vol.  IV.,  p.  496 ;  Vol.  I., 
1797,  p.  7 ;  1815,  p.  73. 

Resolved,  That  the  several  Classes  be  directed  to 
yield  a  strict  compliance  to  the  rule  of  the  Constitution, 
in  relation  to  the  presence  of  a  deputatus  at  examina- 
tions.   Vol.  v.,  p.  58. 

Sec.  VII.     TJie  subjects  of  Baptism. 

1.  The  right  or  privilege  of  infant  baptism  doth  not 
rest  upon  what  is  called  full  communion,  nor  is  the  par- 
taking of  the  Lord's  Supper,  by  one  or  both  of  the 
parents,  an  indispensable  test  for  admitting  infants  to 
be  baptized  in  the  Reformed  Church. 

2.  In  avoiding  one  extreme  which  straightens  admis- 
sion into  the  Church  of  Christ,  by  making  a  test  not 
commanded  in  the  word  of  God,  it  is  necessary  to 
watch  against  the  opposite  evil,  which  makes  no  dis- 
tinction between  the  pure  and  vile,  and  which,  by  an 
indiscriminate  administration  to  all  who  apply,  relaxes 
Christian  discipline  and  prostitutes  the  sacred  ordinance 
of  baptism.    The  General  Synod,  therefore,  recommend 


96  DIGEST.  Ch.  IX 

and  enjoin  that  when  both  the  parents  openly  profess 
such  errors  or  heresies,  or  are  chargeable  with  such 
immoralities  and  improper  conduct  as  ought,  if  they 
were  in  full  communion,  to  exclude  them  from  the  table 
of  the  Lord,  they  shall  not,  during  such  apostacy  in 
doctrine  or  manners,  be  permitted  to  present  their 
infants  to  baptism ;  but  shall  be  denied  that  privilege 
until  they  profess  repentance  and  show  amendment. 
When  one  of  the  parents  shall  be  thus  guilty,  and  the 
other  is  a  decent  and  peaceable  professor  of  the  religion 
of  Jesus  Christ,  the  infant  shall  be  baptized  at  the 
request  and  upon  the  right  of  the  professing  parent, 
who  alone  shall  stand  and  present  the  child.  And 
lastly,  where  the  minister  and  one  or  more  of  the  elders 
find  great  ignorance  in  the  parents,  and  such  a  want  of 
knowledge  in  the  first  principles  of  our  holy  religion 
as  to  render  them  unfit  to  make  a  public  profession  of 
their  faith,  it  shall  be  their  duty  to  withhold  them  for 
a  time,  notwithstanding  their  decent  moral  conduct  and 
profession,  and  frequently  and  affectionately  instruct 
them  previous  to  their  admission  to  the  ordinance,  that 
thus,  if  possible,  the  confession  and  vows  at  the  bap- 
tism of  their  infants  may  be  made  with  knowledge, 
sincerity  and  truth.  1804,  p.  6,  (See,  also,  1816,  p.  35, 
and  Vol.  IV.,  p.  287.) 

Sec.  VIII.    Ministers  without  charge. 

Resolved,  That  the  several  Classes  be  advised  to  the 
utmost  strictness,  in  requiring  ministers  not  declared 
Emeriti,  or  disabled  by  infii-mity,  or  conscientiously  en- 
gaged in  the  education  of  youth,  diligently  to  exercise 
their  sacred  functions,  and  to  command  those  who, 
without  good  reason,  have  engaged  in  worldly  busi- 
ness, if  any  such  there   be,   that  they  return  to  their 


Sec.  9.  CHURCH  GOVERNMENT.  97 

duty,  under  penalty  of  the  discipline  enjoined  by  the 
Church  for  such  offences.    Vol.  VII.,  184G,  p,  G8. 

Sec.  IX.     Candidates. 

1.  Every  candidate  upon  coming  within  the  bounds 
of  any  Classis,  shall,  after  the  first  Sabbath,  call  on  a 
Standing  Committee  of  Appointments,  which  shall  be 
made  by  said  Classis,  and  receive  instructions  before  he 
proceed  to  preach  in  their  vacancies. 

2.  Each  Classis  shall  enter  upon  their  Minrtes  a 
lemma  respecting  candidates,  and  every  candidate  shall 
be  bound  (if  practicable)  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the 
Classis  under  whose  jurisdiction  he  may  at  any  time 
be  found.    Vol.  I.,  1797,  p.  11. 

Sec.  X.    Professor  of  Theology. 

Whereas  it  is  necessary  that  the  ecclesiastical  rela. 
tion  of  the  Professor  of  Theology  should  be  clearly 
ascertained  and  settled  by  General  Synod,  as  well  for 
the  information  and  guidance  of  the  Professor,  as  of 
the  several  judicatories  of  the  Church;  therefore, 

Resolved,  That,  by  the  Constitution  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  the  Professor  of  Theology,  as  such,  has  no 
relation  to  or  connection  with  any  particular  Classis, 
and  is  amenable  only  to  the  General  Synod,  whose  offi- 
cer he  is,  and  of  course  must  take  a  regular  dismission 
from  the  church  and  Classis  to  which  he  belonged : 
but  whenever  he  shall  sustain,  or  with  the  consent  of 
the  General  Synod  assume,  the  pastoral  charge  of  a 
congregation,  he  will,  as  pastor,  stand  on  the  same 
footing  respecting  the  Classis  with  which  such  congre- 
gation is  connected,  as  any  other  minister  of  a  congre- 
gation.   Vol.  I.,  1814. 


98  DIGEST.  Ch.  IX 

Sec.  XL    Bights  of  ministers  in  collegiate  churches. 

In  answer  to  the  question  "  whetlier  in  collegiate  and 
chartered  churches  the  ministers  have,  or  have  not,  a 
vote  and  a  seat  in  the  consistories  of  such  churches  ?  " 
Synod  advised  that,  for  preserving  peace  and  harmony 
in  the  respective  churches,  each  consistory  to  whom  the 
question  applies,  inquire  into  their  practice  in  times 
past,  and  adhere  strictly  to  the  same  in  all  time  to 
come,  without  attempting  to  introduce  any  alteration 
or  innovation.     1797,  p.  13. 

Sec.  XII.    Baptized  cMldrento  be  transferred  with  their 
parents. 

Resolved,  That  in  the  transfer  of  the  parents  from  one 
section  of  the  Church  to  another,  the  membership  of 
their  baptized  children  be  recognized,  and  they  be  in- 
cluded in  such  transfer.     Vol.  IX.,  p.  191. 

Sec.  XIII.    Provisions  for  payment  of  assessment  for 
contingent  expenses. 

Resolved,  That  every  Consistory  be  advised,  at  the 
meeting  held  for  the  appointment  of  a  delegate  to  Clas- 
sis,  to  furnish  to  the  minister  or  delegated  elder  the  sum 
assessed  to  pay  the  Contingent  Fund  of  General  Synod. 

Resolved,  That  the  Classes  be  requested  to  impress 
upon  their  Questors  the  duty  of  reporting  to  them  such 
churches  as  fail  to  meet  their  obligations  to  the  Con- 
tingent Fund. 

Resolved,  That  Synod  recommend  that  they  introduce 
a  standing  rule  that  each  pastor  be  required,  at  the  an- 
nual spring  session  of  Classis,  to  state  the  reasons  for 
any  deficiency  in  that  department,  in  case  such  derelic- 
tion should  exist.    Vol.  IX  ,  p.  447. 


Sec.  14.  CHURCH  GOVERNMENT.  99 

Sec,  XIV.    Stated  Clerks  of  Classes  to  Jill  the  cohiinn  of 
"  Total  ill  Communion." 

"  Your  Committee  find  it  to  be  a  general  rule  that 
the  churches  without  pastors  are  represented  as  having 
no  member,"  &c. 

Resolved,  That  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  several  Clas- 
ses be  directed  to  fill  up  the  blanks  in  the  column 
headed  "  Total  now  in  Communion  "  by  inserting  the 
number  in  the  last  Report,  so  signifying  the  fact.  Vol, 
X.,  p.  314. 

Sec.  XV.    Directions  for  Consistorial  Beports. 

For  the  sake  of  promoting  uniformity. 

Resolved,  1.  That  in  the  Consistorial  Report  under 
the  head  "  Number  of  Families,"  only  such  be  reckoned 
as  are  attendants  upon  the  services  of  the  Church. 

3.  That  the  several  Consistories  be  directed  to  keep  a 
separate  list  of  those  members  whose  places  of  residence 
after  diligent  search,  cannot  be  ascertained,  and  that 
such  members  be  not  included  in  the  yearly  statistical 
report. 

3.  Under  the  head  of  "  Catechetical  and  Bible  Classes," 
by  Catechumens  be  understood  only  such  as  are  regu- 
larly instructed  in  the  catechisms  recognized  by  the 
Church  ;  by  "  Biblical  Instruction."  be  understood  such 
only  as  are  instructed  directly  from  the  Bible  as  a  text 
book. 

4.  Under  the  head  of  "  Contributions  for  Religious, 
Congregational,  and  Benevolent  Purposes,"  be  under 
stood  the  actual  contributions  of  the  congregations  to 
said  objects  for  the  year  thus  reported,  excluding  all 
income  from  bequests  of  previous  years,  rentals  from 
real  estaie,  or  invested  fimds  of  vvhutever  kind. 


100  DIGEST.  Gh,  X 

5.  That  the  above  rules  be  printed  on  the  backs  of 
the  statistical  tables  for  future  guidance.  Vol.  XI.,  p. 
80. 

Sec.  XVI,    Ministers  and  Consistories  to  have  the  collec- 
tions ordered  Ity  Synod  taken  up. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  the  duty  of  every  settled  minister, 
and  of  every  Consistory  where  there  is  no  settled  pas- 
tor, to  see  to  it  that  the  collections  ordered  by  Synod  are 
regularly  taken  up  in  the  churches  under  their  care. 
Vol.  XL,  p.  504. 

CHAP.  X. 

DOCTRINES  AND  MORALS. 

Sec.  I.     On  the  marriage  of  a  deceased  icife's  sister. 

Whereas,  the  ride  prohibiting  the  marriage  of  a  man 
with  his  deceased  wife's  sister  is  found  only  in  resolu- 
tions passed  by  General  Synod  at  its  previous  sessions, 
(see  Vol.  I.,  1797,  p.  12  ;  1815,  p.  32  ;  1816,  p.  23  ;  Vol. 
III.,  p.  59,)  and  not  in  the  Constitution  of  the  Reformed 
Church ;  and  whereas  a  majority  of  the  Classes  have 
reported  against  such  rule,  therefore, 

Besohed,  That  all  resolutions  which  may  have  been 
passed  by  the  General  Synod,  forbidding  a  man  to 
marry  his  deceased  wife's  sister,  be  and  hereby  are  re- 
scinded.   Vol.  VI.,  p.  221. 

Sec.  II.     On  dancing. 

Whereas,  the  mingling  in  promiscuous  assemblies 
for  the  purpose  of  engaging  in  the  amusement  of  danc- 
ing, as  usually  conducted,  is  exclusively  worldly  in  its 
nature  and  tendency ;  and,  on  the  part  of  professors  of 


Sec.  3.  DOCTRINES  AND  MORALS.  101 

religion,  is  calculated  to  dissipate  seriousness,  unfit  the 
mind  for  devotion,  and  lower  the  dig^nity  and  spirit- 
uality of  the  Christian  character  and  profession  ;  is 
adverse  to  the  growth  of  grace  and  the  abiding  influ- 
ence of  the  Holy  Spirit  in  the  churches;  is  calculated 
to  conform  the  Church  to  the  world,  grieve  and  offend 
its  members,  and  place  a  stumbling-block  in  the  way 
of  the  conversion  of  sinners ;  while  such  practice  is 
generally  regarded  in  the  light  of  a  dividing  line  be- 
tween the  Church  and  the  world ;  therefore. 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  regard  it  as  inconsistent 
with  the  nature  and  design  of  the  Christian  profession, 
and  ought  neither  to  be  indulged  in  by  professors  of 
religion  nor  countenanced  in  others. 

JResolved,  That  it  be  enjoined  on  pastors  and  consis- 
tories, with  all  kindness  and  fidelity,  and  by  all  suita- 
ble means,  to  discountenance  the  practice  of  this  and 
all  similar  amusements  at  variance  with  the  dignity 
and  sobriety  of  Christian  deportment.     Vol.  VI.,  p.  344 

Sec.  III.     Catechetical  instruction. 

Whereas,  it  appears  from  the  statistical  tables  of  the 
different  Classes  that  catechetical  instruction  is  greatly 
neglected  in  certain  sections  of  the  Church,  therefore, 

Resolved,  That  the  different  Classes  be  directed  to 
give  their  special  attention  to  this  subject,  so  that,  as 
far  as  possible,  the  youth  in  all  our  congregations  may 
enjoy  the  benefit  of  pastoral  catechetical  instruction, 
according  to  the  provisions  of  the  standards  of  our 
Church.    Vol.  V.,  pp.  59-60. 

Sec.  IV.    Intemperance. 

The  following  resolutions  were  unanimously  adopted 
by  the  General  Synod  in  1828  :  Resolved— 


102  DIGEST.  Ch.  X 

1.  That  tlie  principle  adopted  by  many  individuals 
and  societies  in  different  parts  of  the  country  for  the 
suppression  of  intemperance,  viz  :  total  abstinence  from 
the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  excepting  only  its  use  as  a 
medicine,  meets  with  the  decided  approbation  of  this 
Synod. 

2.  That  it  is  therefore  earnestly  recommeneed  to  the 
members  of  our  churches  that  they  entirely  refrain 
from  the  use  of  ardent  spirits,  except  as  above  men- 
tioned. 

3.  That  it  be  requested  of  all  our  ministers  and 
churches  to  inculcate  the  said  principle,  not  only  by 
example  but  by  precept,  and  especially  among  the 
rising  generation,  and  to  diffuse  such  information  as 
may  be  deemed  best  calculated  to  effect  the  object. 

4.  That  it  be  recommended  to  our  churches,  minis- 
ters, and  individual  Christians,  to  promote  the  cause  of 
temperance  by  the  formation  of  societies,  or  by  such 
other  measures  as  may  be  thought  best  adapted  to  the 
end. 

5.  That,  as  without  God  we  can  do  nothing,  the 
prayers  of  all  Christians  be  requested  for  his  blessing 
upon  the  means  used,  and  for  the  putting  forth  of  his 
power  for  the  suppression  of  intemperance.  Vol.  III., 
p.  133. 

Sec.  V.    Sabbath  observance. 

Besohed,  That  this  Synod  regard  with  deep  interest 
the  extensive  and  awful  profanation  of  the  Sabbath  in 
this  country. 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  consider  the  running  of 
public  stages,  and  steamboats,  and  canal  boats  on  the 
Sabbath,  a  gross  profanation  of  that  holy  day,  and  that 
the  members  of   our  churches  and  congregations  be 


Sec.  6.  DOCTRINES  AND  MORALS.  103 

and  hereby  are  earnestly  solicited  to  discourage,  botli 
Dy  counsel  and  example,  all  such  travelling  on  the 
Sabbath  day. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  and  hereby  is  recommended  to 
our  different  Classes  and  congregations  to  take  the 
subject  of  the  Sabbath  into  their  serious  consideration, 
and  to  devise  such  measures  as  may,  under  the  divine 
blessing,  prevent  the  profanation  and  promote  the 
sane  tifi cation  of  the  Sabbath-day.  Vol.  III.,  pp.  73, 
114,  262 ;  Vol.  VL,  p.  192. 

Sec.  VI.    Disapproval  of  "  Mercersberg  Theology." 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  do  hereby  express,  in  the 
most  decided  and  unequivocal  manner,  their  protest 
against  all  those  sentiments  of  a  Romanizing  character 
and  tendency  which  are  technically  known  as  the  "Mer- 
cersberg Theology,"  as  being  essential  departures  from 
the  faith,  as  calculated  to  lead  yet  farther  astray  from 
the  old  landmarks  of  truth,  and  to  undermine  the  great 
principles  of  the  Reformation  from  Popery.  Vol.  VIII., 
p.  319. 

Sec.  VII.    Ministers  to  prevent  betting  and  games  of 
chance  as  unscriptural. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  enjoined  on  all  ministers,  in  their 
public  ministry,  to  set  forth  the  unscriptural  character 
of  betting  and  all  games  of  chance,  and  the  evils  which 
naturally  flow  from  them,  and  that  Consistories  be  en- 
joined to  act  in  their  oflScial  position  to  discountenance 
and  prevent  the  use  of  lotteries  in  disposing  of  goods  at 
church  fairs.    Vol.  XI ,  p.  86. 


104  DIGEST.  Ch.  XI 

CHAPTER  XI. 

CUSTOMS  AND  USAGES. 

Sec.  1.    Essential  and  nonessential  customs. 

Synod  adopted  tlie  following  report : 

Agreeably  to  tlie  resolutions  of  the  Particular  Synod 
of  New  York,  in  May  last,  Art.  lltli,  under  the  lemma. 
Customs  and  Usages ;  and  also  Art.  27th,  under  the 
lemma,  Instructions  to  Delegates  :  The  first  resolution 
requiring  "  that  the  President  inquire  of  the  delegates 
of  the  different  Classes  present,  whether  such  customs 
and  usages  as  are  tested  by  long  experience  to  be  for 
edification,  and  whether  the  injunction  of  watching 
against  innovations,  are  attended  to  in  the  respective 
churches  under  their  care."  The  second  resolution  re- 
quiring "  that  our  delegates  to  General  Synod  be  di- 
rected to  inquire  of  that  body,  to  what  particular  ob- 
jects the  inquiries  respecting  customs  and  usages  are  to 
be  directed  by  the  difierent  Classes."  Your  committee 
beg  leave  to  report,  that  those  customs  and  usages 
which  were  deemed  necessary  to  be  continued  in  the 
Church,  are  expressed  in  the  explanatory  articles  of  the 
Constitution  ;  such  as  singing  the  psalms  and  hymns 
approved  of,  and  recommended  by  General  Synod  ; 
preacliing  from  the  Heidelberg  Catechism  ;  observing 
the  forms  in  the  administration  of  baptism  and  the 
Lord's  Supper,  &c.,  as  contained  in  our  Liturgy,  &c. 
That  other  customs  and  usages  prevail  in  the  Church 
which  are  deemed  non-essential,  and  in  many  instances 
are  either  wholly  dispensed  with  or  partially  retained 
in  our  congregations,  according  to  the  taste  or  circum- 
stances of  pastors  or  people  ;  such  as  the  arrangements 


Sec  2.  CUSTOMS  AND  USAGES.  105 

observed  in  the  performance  of  public  worship ;  the 
number  of  times  singing  psalms  and  hymns  ;  reading 
sermons,  and  preacliing  them  from  memory  or  extem- 
poraneously ;  sprinkling  in  baptism,  one  or  three  times  ; 
sitting  or  standing  in  receiving  the  Lord's  Supper ; 
preaching  on  Ascension  Day,  Good  Friday,  and  other 
days  which  have  long  been  observed  both  in  Holland 
and  America,  &c.  Your  committee  observe  that  those 
customs  and  usages  which  are  deemed  essential  and 
constitutional,  are  preserved  pure  and  entire  by  the  dif- 
ferent Classes ;  and  we  observe  likewise,  that  those 
which  are  considered  non-essential  are  dispensed  with 
or  retained  and  altered,  according  to  the  taste  or  cir- 
cumstances of  different  ministers  and  congregations. 
1814,  pp.  31,  32. 

Sec.  II.     Of  the  forms  of  the  Church. 

The  following  report  was  adopted  : 

The  committee  to  whom  was  referred  the  subject  of 
the  use  of  the  forms  by  our  churches,  beg  leave  to 
report ;  that  in  the  third  chapter  of  the  Constitution, 
article  first,  under  the  head  of  Customs  and  Usages, 
they  find  this  subject  is  legislated  upon  as  far  as  at 
present  necessary  or  expedient.  Uniformity  in  our 
modes  and  forms  of  worship,  so  far  as  the  same  is  ob- 
viously contemplated  by  the  Constitution,  your  commit- 
tee believe  to  be  important,  and  ought  to  be  required  of 
all  our  churches  ;  and  they  recommend  that  the  several 
Classes  be  enjoined  to  adopt  prompt  measures  to  secure 
the  observance  of  these  forms  in  all  the  churches  under 
their  care.    Vol.  V.,  p.  389. 

Resolved,  That  the  Stated  Clerks  of  the  several 
Classes  be  requested  to  send,  annually,  a  copy  of  their 


106  DIGEST.  Ch.  XI 

statistical  report  to  the  Stated  Clerk  of  General  Synod. 
Vol.  III.,  p.  183. 

Sec.  III.    Bemsioii  of  tlie  Sacramental  Forms  of  Liturgy 
not  adopted. 

Resolved,  That  inasmuch  as  the  revision  of  the  Sacra- 
mental Forms  has  several  times  been  sent  down  to  the 
Classes  for  their  action,  and  a  large  majority  have  either 
failed  to  report,  or  have  reported  against  any  alteration, 
in  the  judgment  of  this  Synod  the  Church  has  decided 
to  make  no  re\dsion. 

The  last  General  Synod  passed  a  resolution  authoriz- 
ing the  Board  of  Publication  to  have  printed  those  forms 
in  the  Revised  Liturgy  which  the  Synod  have  not  acted 
upon,  and  to  allow  ministers  and  Consistories  to  use 
them  or  not  as  they  may  choose.  Four  Classes  have 
endorsed  this  action,  and  recommended  the  adoption  of 
these  forms  ;  four  have  approved  in  part,  but  the  great 
majority  have  either  passed  by  the  subject  in  silence,  or 
have  disapproved  of  the  addition.  Vol.  IX.,  pp.  330, 
331. 

Sec.  IV.    In  coUperation  icith  others,  our  standards  to 
be  guarded. 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  does  not  depart  from  its  uni- 
form practice  of  making  no  declaration  of  abstract  prin- 
ciples. It  leaves  the  subject  of  imion  with  other  denomi- 
nations, in  their  eflforts  to  promote  revivals  of  religion 
and  the  edification  of  the  Church,  to  the  prudence  of 
ministers  and  Consistories,  with  the  advice  that  they 
take  care  that  the  attachment  of  the  people  to  our  doc- 
trinal standards  and  our  usages  be  not  impaired.  Vol. 
IX.,  p.  507. 


Sec.  5.  CORRESPONDENCE.  107 

Sec.  V.     GatecJietical  instruction  and  preaching. 

Whereas,  In  order  to  preserve  the  truth  and  promote 
the  prosperity  of  the  Church,  it  is  of  the  highest  impor- 
tance that  the  children  should  be  trained  in  the  knowl- 
edge and  love  of  sound  doctrine,  and  that  the  catechism 
should  regularly  be  explained  in  our  churches  ;  there- 
fore. 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Synod  earnestly  calls  up- 
on the  Consistories  under  its  care  to  see  that  the  cate- 
chetical instruction  of  the  children  is  faithfully  attended 
to,  not  only  by  pastors  and  teachers,  but  also  that  par- 
ents be  continually  reminded  of  the  obligations  resting 
upon  them  to  instruct  and  bring  up  their  children  in 
the  doctrines  taught  in  our  Church  to  the  utmost  of 
their  power,  in  accordance  with  the  covenant  which 
they  solemnly  made  with  God  and  His  Church,  when 
they  presented  their  children  for  bai)tism. 

Resohed,  That  the  attention  of  Consistories,  Classes, 
and  Particular  Synods  be  directed  to  Article  II.,  Section 
13,  of  the  Constitution,  which  requires  every  minister, 
within  certain  periods  of  time,  regularly  to  explain  the 
system  of  Christian  doctrine  comprehended  in  the  Heid- 
elberg Catecliism,  and  which  also  directs  censure  to  be 
inflicted  in  case  any  minister  should  fail  to  comply 
therewith,  without  suflBcient  reason.    Vol.  X.,  p.  618. 

CHAPER  XII. 

CORRESPONDENCE  WITH  OTHER  CHURCHES. 

Sec.  1.     The  subject  in  general. 

It  is  the  ardent  desire  of  this  Church  to  maintain 
friendly  and  fraternal   relations   with  all   evangelical 


108  DIGEST.  Ch.  XII 

cliurches,  and  especially  to  be  in  close  and  perfect  union 
with  tliose  who  adopt  and  maintain  our  own  formular- 
ies, or  others  of  kindred  spirit  and  form.  Vol.  VI.,  p. 
186. 

Sec.  II.     Correspondence  icith  the  Presbyterian  Ghurch. 

BRIEF  HISTORY  OF. 

A  correspondence  between  the  two  Churches  was  or- 
ganized in  the  year  1785,  contemplating  a  meeting  of 
representatives  from  the  respective  Churches  for  the 
purpose  of  fraternal  consultation.  In  the  year  1797  a 
committee  was  appointed  by  the  General  Synod  to  con- 
fer with  committees  from  the  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  and  from  the  Associate  Reformed 
Synod,  to  form  some  more  definite  plan  of  mutual  cor- 
respondence and  intercourse.  In  the  year  1800  a  plan 
of  correspondence  was  submitted  to  Synod  from  these 
committees,  embracing  the  communion  of  particular 
churches,  the  friendly  interchange  of  ministerial  ser- 
vices, and  a  correspondence  of  the  several  judicatories 
of  the  conferring  Churches.  As  some  of  the  details  of 
this  plan  did  not  accord  with  the  views  of  Synod,  they 
declined  fully  to  accede  to  it.  A  friendly  correspond- 
ence, however,  appears  to  have  been  maintained  between 
the  Churches  until  the  year  1822,  when  the  following 
plan  was  adopted : 

1.  Any  member  of  either  Church  may  be  received  in 
communion  to  the  other,  on  producing  to  the  proper 
church  oflBcers  sufficient  evidence  of  a  good  and  regular 
standing  in  the  church  with  which  he  is  connected. 
Vol.  II.,  1822,  p.  47. 

2.  It  shall  be  permitted  to  the  competent  church  olE- 
cers  in  any  congregation,  settled  or  vacant,  to  invite  to 


Sec.  2.  CORRESPONDENCE.  109 

their  pulpit  any  minister  or  probationer  who  is  in  good 
standing  in  either  of  said  Churches,  and  who  preaches 
in  their  purity  the  great  doctrines  of  the  gospel  as  they 
are  stated  in  their  respective  Confessions  of  Faith,  and 
have  generally  been  received  and  taught  in  the  Re- 
formed Churches ;  but  it  shall  be  entirely  optional  to 
give  or  withhold  such  invitations  ;  nor  shall  it  be  es- 
teemed offensive  or  unkind  if  the  invitation  be  withheld. 
Ibid. 

3.  A  vacant  congregation  shall  be  at  liberty  to  call  a 
minister  from  either  of  the  Churches,  according  to  the 
order  established  in  the  Church  from  which  he  may  be 
called,  he  conforming  himself  to  the  order  of  that 
Church  ;  and  in  case  of  a  congregation  being  formed  of 
people  from  both,  it  shall  be  at  liberty  to  put  itself  un- 
der the  care  of  either,  at  its  option.     Ibid. 

4.  Persons  under  censure  or  process  of  censure  in 
either  Church  shall  not  be  received  into  the  other 
Church  while  such  censure  remains,  or  such  process  is 
unfinished.     1  bid. 

5.  The  ministers  of  one  of  the  corresponding  Churches 
shall  not  in  any  case  intrude  upon  the  office  of  the  min- 
isters of  the  other  Church. 

6.  None  of  the  inferior  judicatories  shall  be  at  liberty 
to  admit  to  their  respective  bodies  or  under  their  care 
any  student  or  licentiate  from  the  sister  Church,  with- 
out a  regular  dismission  from  the  ecclesiastical  body  or 
theological  seminary  to  which  he  is  considered  as  at- 
tached.    Vol.  ILL,  p.  255. 

7.  The  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
and  the  General  Synod  of  the  Reformed  Church  sliall 
each  appoint  one  minister,  with  an  alternate,  as  a  dole- 
gate  to  these  judicatories.     1822,  p.  48  ;  Vol.  VI.,  p.  73. 

D 


110  DIGEST.  Ch.  XII 

Sec.  Ill,    Privileges  of  Delegates. 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  consider  the  articles  of  cor- 
respondence adopted  between  the  highest  j  udicatories 
of  the  two  Churches  as  authorizing  the  delegates  from 
each  of  these  j  udicatories  mutually  to  deliberate  on  all 
questions  that  may  come  before  them,  in  the  same  man- 
ner and  to  the  same  extent  as  their  own  members,  sub- 
ject to  the  rules  of  both  houses  ;  and  that  the  said  dele- 
gates are  excluded  only  from  the  privilege  of  voting. 
Vol.  II.,  1822,  p.  32. 

Sec.  IV.     Correspondence  loith  the  B.  D.  GlmrcTi  of  8. 
Africa,  and  the  Waldenses  in  Piedmont. 

BesoUed,  That  Synod  open  a  correspondence  by  let- 
ter, and  accompanied  by  our  Annual  Minutes,  with  the 
Synod  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  in  South  Africa, 
and  the  Synod  of  the  Waldenses  in  Piedmont.  Vol. 
VIII.,  p.  536. 

Sec.  V.     With  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland. 

Besolved,  That  this  Synod  are  gratified  to  receive  the 
intimation  that  the  opening  of  a  correspondence  will 
be  acceptable  to  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland,  and  cor- 
dially accede  to  such  an  arrangement.     Vol.  IX.,  p.  15. 

Sec.  VI.     With  the  German  Beformed  Church. 

Besolved,  That  in  pursuance  of  the  recommendations 
of  the  above  report,  this  Synod  appoint  delegates  to  * 
(both  the  General  Assemblies  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church)  and  to  the  Synod  of  the  German  Reformed 
Church.    Vol.  X.,  p.  277. 

*  Both  reonited  this  year,  1869. 


Sec.  7.  RELIGIOUS  NEWSPAPERS.  Ill 

Sec.  VII.     With  the  Reformed  and  the  United  Presby- 
terian Churches. 

Your  Coininittee  recommend  that  euch  correspond 
ence  be  opened.     Adopted  by  Synod.     Vol.  X.,  p.  434. 

Sec.  VIII.      With  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church. 

Tlic  Committee  recommend  that  this  request  (the  ap- 
pointment of  a  deh>o-ate)  and  that  General  Synod  recip- 
rocate the  lV;iTtM'!iol  pjilutations  of  the  Canada  Presby- 
tcrian  Churcli.     Vol.  XI..  p.  oS*'. 


CIIAPTKi:  XI  il. 


'  I'.KLIGIorS    NJ^VvSl'AIMCUS. 

Sec.  I.     Jt'iard  af  PuUlca.tion  to  is.-tue  a,  Moni/dy^ 

Remhed,  That  this  Synod  a[)i)rove  tlie  proposition 
made  by  the  Board  of  Publication,  to  issue  a  monthly 
paper  for  ecclesiastical  purposes.     Vol.  VIII.,  p.  (514. 

Sec.  II.     The  Boards  of  the  Church  to  use  it  and  bear  a 
just  'proportion  of  the  expense.  ' 

Resolved,  That  the  several  Boards  of  our  Church  be 
recommended  to  employ  the  columns  of  *  "  IVie  Sower  " 
in  communicating  to  the  Churches  knowledge  of  their 
respective  operations,  and  that  it  be  further  recom- 
mended that  each  Board  bear  so  great  a  proportion  of 
the  expenses  of  that  paper  as  may  seem  to  it  to  be  just. 
Vol.  IX.,  p  118. 

♦The  monthly  referred  to  in  Sec.  1. 


112  DIGP:ST.  Gh.  XIII 

Sec.  III.    Pastors  and  Consistories  to  endeavor  to  secure 
its  introduction  into  every  family. 

Resolved,  That  eacli  Pastor  and  Consistory  of  onr  de- 
nomination are  requested  by  General  Synod  to  make  an 
especial  effort  to  secare  the  introduction  of  "  TJie  Sower" 
into  every  family  of  their  respective  Churches.  Vol.  X.^ 
p.  645. 

Sec.  IV.    A  Weekly  paper  essential. 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Synod  consider  a  weekly 
newspaper  to  be  essential  to  the  interests  of  the  Church. 
Vol.  VIII.,  p.  285. 

Sec.  V.    An  incorporated  company  to  he  formed  for 
publishing  one. 

Resolved,  That  it  is  desirable  to  have  among  us  a  re 
ligious  newspaper  of  such  a  character  and  so  ably  con- 
ducted that  it  shall  find  entrance  into  every  family  of 
our  Church,  and  secure  also  a  fair  outside  support. 

Resolved,  That  in  order  to  secure  farther  this  intended 
circulation,  all  the  members  of  our  church  should  have 
an  opportunity  of  becoming  interested  in  its  support,  in- 
stead of  its  being  conducted  for  the  profit  of  any  indi- 
vidual  or  company. 

Resolved,  That  we  recommend  the  formation  of  an  in- 
•corporated  company  under  the  general  laws  of  New 
York,  with  a  capital  stock  of  not  less  than  twenty  thou- 
sand dollars,  ($20,000,)  of  which  any  member  of  any  of 
our  congregations  shall  have  liberty  to  take  $100  and 
over,  which  corporation  shall  establish  and  conduct 
such  Paper. 

Resolved,  That  General  Synod  recommend  such  a 
Paper  to  the  support  of  the  (Jhurch,  on   condition  that 


Sec.  1.  PAIITICULARIA.  113 

the  certificate  of  corporation  of  such  com[)any  shall  pro 
vide  that  all  the  profits  realized  therefrom  exceeding 
ten  per  cent,  per  annum  upon  the  capital  stock  shall  be 
paid  over  at  the  expiration  of  each  year  as  follows,  viz.; 
One-half  thereof  to  the  Disabled  Ministers'  Fund,  the 
interest  of  which,  and  so  much  of  the  princijml  as  may 
be  required,  shall  be  annually  appropriated  under  the 
established  regulations  of  the  Fund,  and  one-half  there- 
of to  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  to  be  added  to  the 
C  hurch  Building  Fund,  and  on  this  further  condition 
that  every  certificate  of  any  share  or  shares  issued  for 
stock  in  said  company  shall  contain  a  provision  that  no 
sale  or  transfer  thereof  shall  be  made  until  an  offer  of 
sale  of  the  same  at  par  value  shall  be  made  to  the  Board 
of  Direction. 

Resolved,  That  a  Special  Committee  of  five  Elders, 
consisting  of  James  Myers,  John  Lyon,  James  A.  Wil- 
liamson, Lewis  Applegate,  and  S.  R.  W.  Heath,  be  ap- 
pointed to  carry  out  these  views  of  Synod  as  speedily 
as  possible. 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

PAETICULARIA. 

Sec.  I.     Union  of  Church  and  State. 

Resolved,  That  that  part  of  the  36th  article  of  the 
Confession  of  Faith,  as  now  printed,  which  declares  that 
it  belongs  to  the  office  of  the  civil  magistrate  "to  protect 
the  holy  Church  service,  and  to  prevent  and  extirpate 
all  idolatry  and  false  worship  ;  to  destroy  the  kingdom 
of  Antichrist ;  to  promote  the  kingdom  of  Jesus  Christ, 
and  to  take  care  that  the  word  of  the  Gospel  be  preach- 
ed everywhere,  that  God  may  be  honored  and  worshiped 


114  DIGEST.  Ch.  XIV 

by  every  one  as  He  commands  in  His  Word,"  is  suf- 
ficiently explained  in  tlie  preface  of  the  Constitution  and 
35th  explanatory  article. 

Resolved,  That  the  Reformed  Church  deprecates 
any  union  between  Church  and  State  as  alike  de. 
trimental  to  the  interests  of  vital  piety,  and  dangerous 
to  that  liberty  of  conscience  which  is  now  enjoyed  by 
the  citizens  of  our  happy  Republic. 

Resolved,  That  the  results  of  experience  in  this 
country  abundantly  prove  that  the  Church  needs  no 
other  support  than  the  piety  of  its  members  and  the 
grace  of  Christ.     Vol.  IV.,  pp.  438-439. 

Sec.  II.    Funeral  Service. 

A  form  for  this  service  having  been  introduced  to  the 
attention  of  Synod,  "  after  mature  deliberation  the  mo- 
tion passed  in  the  negative,  as  far  it  respects  the  limita- 
tion to  any  prescribed  form  ;  but  the  Synod  approve  of 
speaking  a  word  in  season,  either  at  the  grave  or  in 
the  house,  or  the  church,  and  to  close  the  solemnity 
with  a  prayer  and  benediction.     1812,  p.  34. 

Sec.  III.    Days  of  special  Humiliation  and  Prayer. 

Resolved,  That  whenever,  in  any  of  our  churches, 
religion  is  in  a  low  and  declining  state,  it  is  recom- 
mended as  a  very  important  duty,  and  under  the  di- 
vine blessing  made  the  means  for  the  revival  of  reli- 
gion, to  observe  the  season  usually  set  apart  prepara- 
tory to  the  administration  of  the  Lord's  Supper  for  the 
purposes  of  special  himiiliation  and  prayer.  1826,  p. 
36. 

Sec.  IV.    Psalm-book  not  to  be  a  source  of  profit. 
Resolved,  That  this  Synod  regards  the  general  diffu- 
sion  of  our  book  of  Psalms  and  Hymns,    as  an  ob- 


Sec.  5.  PARTICULARIA.  115 

ject  much  more  desirable  than  any  pecuniary  profits 
that  may  be  derived  from  the  publication  or  sale  of  the 
book,  to  whatever  object  these  profits  may  be  devoted. 

Resolved,  That  the  Board  of  Corporation  be  requested 
to  eflfect  the  reduction  of  the  price  of  our  Psalm-book 
as  soon  as  practicable.  Vol.  IV.,  p.  439.  See  also  Vol. 
VII.,  p.  9G. 

Sec.  V.    Sacred  Music. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  our  several 
Classes  to  pursue  such  measures  as  they  in  their  wis- 
dom shall  judge  best  for  exciting  attention  to  sacred 
music,  in  order  to  elevate  its  standard  in  their  respect- 
ive churches. 

Resolved,  also,  That  the  introduction  of  music  in  our 
distiict  schools  be  recommended.  Vol.  V.,  p.  421. 
See  also  Vol.  IV.,  p.  533,  and  Vol.  V..  pp.  89-92. 

Sec.  VI.  The  Act  of  the  New  York  Legislature  in  re- 
gard to  religious  incor2')orations. 
Resolved,  1.  That  this  General  Synod  consider  the 
Act  of  the  Legislature  as  opposed  to  the  practice,  inju- 
rious to  the  interests,  and  subversive  of  the  Constitu- 
tion  and  rules  of  government  of  the  Reformed  Church. 

2.  That  all  our  churches  be,  and  they  are  hereby 
enjoined  against  adopting  the  provisions  of  said  Act, 
and  that  the  churches  which  have  already  adopted  them 
be  directed  to  dispense  with  them  and  adhere  to  the 
Constitution  and  orders  of  the  Church. 

3.  That  the  Elders,  P.  D.  Vroom,  Stephen  Van  Rens- 
selaer, John  D.  Keese  and  Abraham  Van  Nest,  and  the 
Rev.  Andrew  Yates,  D,  D..  be  appointed  a  committee  to 
confer  with  the  church  at  whose  request  it  was  passed, 
and  those  churches  which  may  have  adopted  its  pro- 


116  DIGEST.  Ch.  XIV 

visions,  as  to  the  expediency  of  requesting  its  repeal. 
Vol.  IV.,  1835,  p.  437-438. 

This  committee  reported  the  next  year  (1836)  that 
they  had  met  ■with  a  committee  of  the  consistory  of  the 
church  referred  to,  and  had  had  a  full  and  free  confer- 
ence with  them  in  relation  to  the  Act  and  the  expedien- 
cy of  procuring  its  repeal,  but  had  not  been  able  to 
come  to  any  specific  agreement  or  understanding  : 

Whereupon,  it  was  Resolved,  That  this  General 
Synod  do  still  entertain  the  opinion  expressed  at  their 
last  meeting,  as  to  the  effect  of  the  law  upon  the  Con- 
stitution of  our  Church  and  its  permanent  welfare. 
And  they  do  most  earnestly  and  affectionately  advise  and 
recommend  to  the  congregations  and  consistories  that 
have  availed  themselves  of  its  provisions,  to  adopt  such 
measures  in  relation  to  it  as  will  best  tend  to  remove 
existing  embarrassments,  promote  the  harmony  and 
order  of  our  Zion,  and  preserve  the  purity  of  its  princi- 
ples and  faith.     Vol.  IV.,  p.  533. 

Sec.  VII.     Report  on  the  State  of  Religion  to  he  read 
from  the  pulpit. 

Resolved,  That  it  be  recommended  to  the  different 
ministers  to  read  from  their  pulpits  the  Report  of  the 
Committee  on  the  State  of  Religion ;  and  also  such 
parts  of  the  Report  of  the  Committee  on  the  Profes- 
sorate as  they  shall  consider  important  to  be  known  by 
all  the  churches,  upon  the  first  Sabbath  after  the 
printed  Minutes  shall  be  received,  or  as  soon  thereafter 
as  practicable.    Vol.  III.,  p.  210. 

Sec.  VIII.     Titles  to  be  omitted  in  recording  names  in 
Minutes. 
Resolved,  That  all  distinctive  titles  or  appendages  to 
the  names  of  members  of  Svnod  be  omitted  in  record" 


Sec.  9.  PARTICULAR! A.  117 

ing  the  Minutes  of  this  Synod  ;  such  distinctive  title 
being  prefixed  or  appended  to  tlic  name  of  the  member 
in  the  'list  of  members  constituting  the  Synod.  Vol. 
VII.  p.  507. 

Sec.  IX.     Column  for  Contributions  in  the  Statistical 
Tables. 

Resolved,  That  the  present  column  for  contributions 
embrace  only  those  that  are  strictly  benevolent ;  and 
that  a  column  for  congregational  purposes  be  added, 
which  shall  include  all  moneys  raised  for  salaries, 
debts,  church  expenses,  etc.,  and  that,  if  necessary,  the 
column  headed  "  Total  of  the  Congregation "  be 
dropped.     Vol.  IX.,  p.  56. 

Sec.  X.     Stated  Clerk  to  distnhute  Minutes  to  Insti- 
tutions. 

Resolved,  That  the  Stated  Clerk  of  Synod  have  twen- 
ty-five copies  of  the  Minutes  of  Synod  at  his  disposal, 
to  be  distributed  among  literary  and  theological  insti- 
tutions.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  244. 

Sec.  XI.    Expenses  of  Delegates  from  Western  Classes, 

Resolved,  That  we  return  to  the  arrangement  of  1857, 
viz :  to  divide  the  sum  appropriated  between  not  more 
than  three  delegates  from  each  Classis  ;  and  if  there  be 
less  than  three  delegates  in  attendance,  then  each  dele- 
gate shall  receive  but  one-third  of  the  sum  thus  appro- 
priated.    Vol.  IX.,  p.  467. 

Sec.  III.     Minutes  of  Synod  to  be  published  and 
circulated  as  soon  as  practicable.    Vol.  XL,  p.  83. 

Sec.  XIII.      Article  XIII  of  Minutes  altered  to  "  Church 
Colleges."     Vol.  XL,  p.  91. 


118  DIGEST.  Gh.  XIV 

Sec.  XIV.      "[Theological   School "    in    Constitution 
cimnged  to  "  Schools."     Vol.  XL,  p.  340. 

Sec.  XV.     "  Hymns  of  the  Church  "  approved  and  re- 
commended. 

Besohed,  That  General  Synod  approve  and  author- 
ize the  book  entitled  "  Hymns  of  the  Church,"  includ- 
ing the  ninety-five  additional  hymns,  for  which  ap- 
proval is  asked,  and  recommend  it  to  all  churches,  fam- 
ilies and  individuals  within  their  communion. 

Besolved,  That  the  action  of  General  Synod  in  1848, 
prohibiting  the  issue  of  any  edition  of  the  Psalms  and 
Hymns  of  our  church  without  the  Confession  of  Faith 
and  Lituroy,  be  re  affirmed  in  relation  to  the  "  Hymns 
of  the  Church"  approved  by  this  Synod. 

Resolved,  That  the  Committee  having  this  matter  in 
charge  be  instructed  to  procure  a  suflBcient  number  of 
-copies  of  said  book  for  use  in  our  Churches,  which  shall 
contain  our  Doctrinal  Standards  and  Liturgy,  as  now 
published,  and  that  General  Synod  recommend  such 
only  to  be  introduced  into  our  Churches. 

Eesolved,  That  all  such  copies  shall  bear  upon  their 
title  page  the  name  of  our  Church  "  Reformed  Church 
in  America."    Vol.  XI„  p.  641. 

Sec.   XVI.    lieports    of  Delegates  to  corresponding 
churches  not  to  he  printed  in  Minutes.    Vol.  XL, 
p.  419. 

Sec.  XVII.    New  Hymns  apjjroved  and  publication 
authorized.    Vol.  XL,  p.  468. 

Sec.  XVIII.  Class-is  of  Holland  pennitted  to  translate 
and  puUish  the  Constitution  in  the  Hollandish  lan- 
guage.   Vol.  XL,  p.  497. 


APPENDIX.  11« 

APPEl^DIX. 

PARTICULAll   SYNODS. 

In  view  of  the  entirely  remodeling  effect  of  the  action 
of  General  Synod  at  the  meetinor  in  18G9,  since  it  is  not 
all  actual  law  until  part  of  it  has  received  the  sanction 
of  the  Classes,  and  the  Synod  so  enact  it,  yet  is  so  soon 
in  all  probability  to  become  law,  it  is  deemed  best  for 
the  x^resent  edition  simply  to  place  the  resolutions  adopt- 
ed by  Synod  in  an  appendix.  Parties  interested  in  the 
matter  will  be  in  no  danger  of  mistake.  Whatever  its 
not  affected  by  this  new  action  still  abides.  Whatever 
is  so  affected  is  of  course  modified  or  superseded  by  this 
later  action.  A  mere  pencil  mark  in  each  one's  copy, 
after  the  action  of  the  Classes  is  made  known,  will  se- 
cure all  needed  correctness.  The  action  of  Synod  is  a* 
follows  : 

1.  Resolved,  That  this  Synod  deems  it  desirable  to 
organize  a  new  Particular  Synod,  and  that  the  Classed 
of  Bergen,  South  Bergen,  Monmouth,  New  Brunswick. 
Paramus,  Passaic,  Philadelphia,  and  Raritan,  be  and 
hereby  are  dismissed  from  the  Particular  Synod  of  New 
York,  to  constitute  a  new  Particular  Synod. 

2.  Resolved,  That  the  Classes  of  Bergen,  South  Ber- 
gen, Monmouth,  New  Brunswick,  Paramus,  Passaic, 
Philadelphia,  and  Raritan  be  and  hereby  are  instructed 
to  appoint  delegates  at  their  next  fall  sessions,  in  con- 
formity with  the  provisions  of  the  Constitution,  to  meet 
in  the  First  Reformed  Church  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J,, 
on  the  first  Monday  of  November  next,  at  10  o'clock,  A. 
M.,  and  proceed  to  organize  a  new  Particular  Synod,  to 
be  called  the  Particular  Synod  of  New  Brunswick. 


130  DIGEST. 

3.  Resolved,  That  the  Eevs.  Goyn  Talmage,  J.  Elmen- 
dorf,  and  Gabriel  Ludlow,  be  a  Committee  on  the  part 
of  this  Synod,  to  attend  the  above  mentioned  meeting, 
and  assist  in  the  organization  of  the  contemplated  Par- 
ticular Synod. 

4.  Resolved,  That  the  Classes  of  Kingston  and  Orange 
be  and  hereby  are  transferred  from  the  Particular  Synod 
of  Albany,  to  the  Particular  Synod  of  New  York. 

5.  Resolved,  (If  a  majority  of  the  Classes  concur), 
That  every  Particular  Synod  shall  hereafter  consist  of 
a  delegation  of  four  Ministers  and  four  Elders  from  each 
of  the  Classes  within  its  bounds. 

6.  Resolved,  That  it  be  enjoined  upon  the  Particular 
Synods  to  transact  their  business  with  due  deliberation, 
and  to  hold  such  devotional  services  during  their  sessions 
as  may  conduce  to  the  spiritual  improvement  of  their 
members,  and  the  several  Churches  in  which  they  assem- 
ble ;  and  that  to  compass  this  desirable  result,  it  is  earn- 
estly recommended  by  this  Synod,that  the  Particular  Sy- 
nods hereafter  convene  at  three  o'clock,  P.  M.,  of  the  day 
designated  for  their  regular  session  ;  that  after  their  or- 
ganization is  effected,  the  first  hour  be  spent  in  devo- 
tional services ;  that  the  Synodical  sermon  be  preached 
the  same  evening  ;  that  the  first  hour  of  the  next  morn- 
ing session  be  spent  in  devotional  exercises,  in  connec- 
tion with  which  the  Chairman  of  the  Committee  on  the 
State  of  Religion  shall  read  such  extracts  from  the  an- 
nual reports  of  the  Classes  as  he  may  elect ;  that  in  the 
afternoon  of  the  second  day  of  the  session,  the  Lord's 
Supper  be  administered  under  the  auspices  of  the  Sy- 
nod ;  that  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day  a  sermon  be 
preached  before  Synod  ;  the  Preacher  and  his  theme, 
together  with  an  alternate,  to  be  chosen  at  the  preced- 
ing annual  session,  and  that  the  first  half  hour  of  each 


appj:ndix.  121 

subsequent  daj'-  of  the  Syuvod  be  spent  in  devotional  ser- 
vices. 

7.  Resolved,  (If  a  majority  of  the  Classes  concur), 
That  the  Particular  Synods  be,  hereafter,  Courts  of  final 
appeal  for  all  causes  that  liave,  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions  of  the  Constitution,  been  tried  originally  in 
the  Consistory,  unless  as  many  members  of  the  Partic- 
lar  Synod  as  there  are  Classes  composing  said  Synod 
shall,  within  ten  days  after  the  adjournment  of  the 
same,  file  with  the  President  of  the  Particular  Synod  a 
certificate  to  the  effect  that  in  their  judgment,  any  cause 
originating  in  the  Consistory  which  has  been  reviewed 
by  the  Particular  Synod,  is  a  proper  case  for  the  action 
of  the  General  Synod,  in  which  case  an  appeal  may  be 
taken  to  the  higher  j  udicatory. 

8.  Resolved,  That  two  committees  be  hereafter  ap- 
pointed by  each  of  the  Particular  Synods,  to  be  called 
respectively  the  Committee  on  Church  Visitation,  and 
the  Committee  on  Church  Extension  ;  that  each  of  these 
Committees  be  composed  of  nine  members,  viz  :  Six 
Ministers  and  three  Elders  ;  that  at  the  next  regular 
session  of  each  of  the  Particular  Synods,  these  Commit- 
tees be  appointed  by  ballot — one-third  of  their  number, 
viz  :  Two  Ministers  and  one  Elder  being  chosen  to 
serve  for  one,  two,  and  three  years  respectively,  and 
that  at  each  succeeding  annual  session,  two  Ministers 
and  one  Elder  be  elected  for  three  years. 

9.  Resolved,  That  the  Committee  on  Church  Visita- 
tion  be  charged  with  the  promotion  of  spiritual  religion 
and  Christian  beneficence  among  the  Churches  within 
the  bounds  of  the  Particular  Synod  ;  and  that  at  some 
suitable  period  of  each  year,  it  arrange  to  hold  a  Con- 
vention of  Churches  within  the  limits  of  each  Classis, 
at  which  some  of  its  members  shall  be  present,  to  urge 


122  DIGEST. 

these  important  interests  upon  the  minds  and  hearts  of 
the  people. 

10.  Resolved,  That  the  -Committee  on  Church  Exten- 
sion be  charged  with  the  general  supervision  of  our  de- 
nominational growth  within  the  bounds  of  the  Particu. 
lar  Synod  ;  that  it  search  out  opportunities  for  the  es- 
tablishment of  new  organizations,  and  that  it  afford  all 
possible  encouragement  and  assistance  to  feeble  enter- 
prises— it  being  understood  that  this  Committee  is  de- 
signed to  supplement  rather  than  supersede  the  efforts 
of  the  Classis,  and  the  Board  of  Domestic  Missions,  and 
that  nothing  in  this  resolution  shall  be  construed  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  infringe  the  prerogatives  of  either. 

11.  Resolved,  That  the  Secretaries  of  the  several 
Boards  of  the  ('hurch  be  requested,  so  far  as  they  may 
be  able,  to  attend,  alternately,  the  sessions  of  the  Par- 
ticular Synods,  and  address  the  members  upon  the 
claims  of  the  respective  Boards,  and  upon  the  general 
subject  of  Christian  beneficence. 

The  plan,  thus  suggested  by  your  Committee,  in- 
volves the  necessity  of  amending  two  sections  of  the 
Constitution.  They  recommend,  therefore,  the  adoption 
of  the  following  supplemental  resolutions,  viz  : 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Synod  approve  and  pro- 
pose to  the  Classes  the  amendment  of  Chapter  II.,  Arti- 
cle IV.,  Section  I.,  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  in  such  a  manner  as  that  it  shall  read  as  fol- 
lows, viz  :  "  Every  Particular  Synod  shall  comprehend 
a  certain  number  of  Classes  to  be  designated  by  the 
General  Synod,  and  shall  consist  of  a  delegation  of  four 
Ministers  and  four  Elders  from  every  Classis  within  its 
bounds,  and  nine  Ministers  and  nine  Elders,  when  reg- 
ularly convened,  shall  constitute  a  quorum  for  the  tran- 
saction of  business,  excepting  those  Synods  which  maj 


APPENDIX.  123 

consist  of  not  more  than  five  Classes,  in  which  cases  bIz 
Ministers  and  dix  Elders  may  form  a  quorum." 

Resolved,  That  the  General  Synod  approve  and  pro- 
pose to  the  Classes  the  amendment  of  Chapter  II.,  Arti- 
cle I.,  Section  7,  of  the  Constitution  of  the  Reformed 
Church,  by  inserting  after  the  phrase  "  enjoys  the  same 
privilege  "  the  language  "  except  that  the  Particular 
Synod  shall  be  a  Court  of  final  appeal  for  all  causes  that 
have,  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  the  Consti- 
tution, been  tried  originally  in  the  Tonsistory,"  unless 
as  many  members  of  the  Particular  Synod  as  there  are 
Classes  composing  said  Synod  shall,  within  ten  days  af- 
ter the  adjournment  of  the  same,  file  with  the  President 
of  the  Particular  Synod  a  certificate  to  the  effect  that  in 
their  judgment  any  cause  originating  in  the  Consistory 
which  has  been  reviewed  by  the  Particular  Synod,  is  a 
proper  case  for  the  action  of  the  General  Synod,  in 
which  case  an  appeal  may  be  taken  to  the  higher  judi- 
catory. 

BY-];AWS  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  DIRECTIOX. 

The  By-Laws  of  this  Board  as  printed  on  pages  35 
and  36,  were  transferred  from  the  Digest  of  1848.  That 
they  were  superseded  by  a  new  enactment  as  early  as 
1827,  escaped  notice  until  it  was  too  late  to  correct  the 
error  in  the  body  of  the  work.  The  only  remedy  was 
to  insert  them  in  the  Appendix. 

The  General  Synod  in  pursuance  of  the  authority 
vested  in  them  by  their  act  of  Incorporation,  have  made 
and  ordained  the  following  By  Laws,  to  regulate  the 
conduct  of  the  President,  Directors,  and  Treasurer  of 
the  Corporation. 


124  DIGEST. 

I. 

The  Board  shall  hold  stated  meetings  at  least  once  in 
every  month,  and  the  President  may  call  special  meet- 
ings whenever  he  deems  it  necessary,  and  shall  call 
such  meetings  when  thereto  requested  hy  any  two  of 
the  Directors. 

II. 

A  majority  of  the  Board  shall  constitute  a  quorum  to 
transact  business,  and  in  the  absence  of  the  President 
the  attending  Directors  may  appoint  a  President  pro. 
tern,  to  preside  at  their  meetings. 

III. 

The  Board  of  Directors  are  empowered  to  direct  the 
collection  of  all  moneys  which  may  be  due  to  the  Gen- 
eral Synod  or  subject  to  their  control  and  outstanding,, 
whenever  the  Board  shall  consider  it  necessary  or  ex- 
pedient ;  and  also  to  require  new  or  additional  security 
for  outstanding  debts,  as  a  condition  of  extending  the 
time  of  payment  of  any  such  debts  which  may  not  be 
deemed  perfectly  secure  ;  and  all  securities  for  moneys 
belonging  to  or  under  the  control  of  Synod  shall  be 
made  payable  to  the  Corporation  in  its  corporate  name 
and  its  assigns,  either  on  demand,  or  at  a  day  certain, 
not  beyond  a  year  from  their  date,  with  interest  paya- 
ble yearly. 

IV. 

The  Board  of  Directors  shall  appoint  two  of  their 
number,  who  with  the  Treasurer  shall  form  a  Finance 
Committee,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  invest  or  loan  the 
moneys  whichs  may  come  into  the  Treasury  over  and 
above  the  sums  required  to  satisfy  any  existing  claims 


APPENDIX.  125 

or  appropriations  made,  as  they  shall  deem  safe  and 
most  productive,  and  the  Treasurer  shall,  whenever  the 
amount  received  into  the  Treasury  exceeds  $500  over 
said  existing  claims  and  appropriations,  immediately 
report  such  excess  to  the  Finance  Committee. 

V. 

The  money  as  they  become  due  shall  be  receivable 
by  the  Treasurer,  whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  deposit  the 
same  forthwith  in  the  Bank  of  New  York,  or  in  such 
other  Bank  as  the  Board  of  Directors  shall  from  time  to 
time  determine,  and  all  such  deposits  shall  be  entered 
in  a  book  to  the  credit  of  the  Treasurer  of  "  The  Gener- 
al Synod  of  the  Keformed  Protestant  Dutch  Church," 
who  shall  have  the  custody  of  said  book,  and  all  moneys 
shall  be  drawn  out  of  the  Bank  by  written  or  printed 
checks  signed  by  the  Treasurer  in  his  official  capacity. 

The  Treasurer  shall  keep  regular  books  of  accounts, 
in  which  he  shall  enter  all  moneys  received  or  paid  out 
by  him  under  appropriate  heads,  designating  the  partic 
ular  fund  to  which  the  same  belong,  when  and  from 
whom  received,  and  when  and  to  whom  paid  ;  and  also 
to  keep  in  said  books  a  particular  statement  of  all 
moneys  loaned,  to  whom,  when,  and  upon  what  securi- 
ties loaned,  and  all  moneys  otherwise  invested,  and 
when  and  how  ;  and  shall  state  separately  under  the 
head  of  Donations,  all  sums  of  money  which  have  been 
or  may  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of  Synod,  designating 
the  donors'  names,  the  amount  of  their  several  dona- 
tions, and  the  particular  ])urposes  for  which  made  ;  and 
shall  exhibit  his  books  of  account,  including  his  bank- 
book, to  the  Board  of  Directors  for  their  inspection  at 
every  stated  meeting,  and  oftener  if  requested.  And  it 
ig  made  the  duty  of  the  Board  to  examine  such   booki 


126  DIGEST. 

when  so   exhibited,  and  to  make   a  brief  entry  of  the 
general  result  of  the  examination  in  their  minutes. 

VI. 

The  Board  of  Directors  are  authorized  to  appoint  a 
Secretary,  whose  dutj^  shall  be  to  attend  their  stated 
meetings  and  keep  regular  minutes  of  their  proceed- 
ings, and  to  correspond  with  such  persons  as  the  Board 
shall  direct  relative  to  their  business. 

VII. 

The  Board  shall  report  to  Synod  at  their  annual 
meetings,  a  particular  statement  of  the  situation  of  the 
funds  belonging  to  or  under  the  control  of  Synod,  how 
secured  or  invested,  together  with  such  suggestions 
and  information  as  the  Board  may  deem  necessary,  the 
better  to  secure  the  said  funds,  or  to  render  the  same 
more  productive ;  and  shall  accompany  such  report 
with  a  general  abstract  of  the  Treasurer's  accounts  of 
receipts,  and  payments  for  the  past  year. 

VIII. 

The  Board  is  authorized  to  aflBx  the  common  seal  of 
the  Corporation,  and  cause  their  President  to  give  his 
official  signature  to  any  letter  of  attorney  for  the  col- 
lection of  debts,  or  any  other  purpose,  in  order  to  the 
due  fulfilment  of  any  of  their  aforesaid  duties. 

IX. 

The  appointments  of  the  President,  Directors  and 
Treasurer  shall  not  endure  longer  than  one  year,  or 
until  others  are  appointed,  but  no  new  appointments 
may  be  made  within  the  year,  and  the  Board  of  Direct- 
ors are  authorized  to  suspend  the  Treasurer  from  office 
for  misconduct ;  in  which  case,  or  in  case  of  his  resig- 


APPENDIX.  127 

nation,  death  or  inalnlity  to  perform  the  duties  of  hie 
oflSce,  and  also  in  case  of  his  dcclinino:  to  accept  his 
oflBce,  (when  thereunto  appointed  by  General  Synod, 
and  after  their  adjournment)  the  Board  of  Directors 
may  appoint  a  Treasurer  ^jro.  tern,  to  hold  his  office 
until  the  next  meeting  of  General  Synod,  and  until 
another  Treasurer  is  appointed. 

X. 

The  Board  of  Directors  are  authorized  to  detennine 
the  amount  of  salary  to  he  paid  to  the  Treasurer  and 
Secretary  for  their  services,  (if  it  shall  be  deemed  by 
them  expedient  to  grant  any  salary,)  but  under  this  ex- 
press limitation,  that  the  salary  of  the  Treasurer  shall 
not  exceed  the  sum  of  §250  per  annum,  nor  shall  the 
salary  of  the  Secretary  exceed  the  sum  of  $100  per  an- 
num, exclusive  of  necessary  disbursements  made  by 
them  in  the  execution  of  their  respective  duties,  to  be 
audited  by  the  Board  of  Directors  ;  w^hicli  said  salaries 
shall  be  paid  quarterly  yearly  if  required.  And  the 
Board  of  Direction  shall  also,  from  time  to  time,  deter- 
mine the  amount  of  security  to  be  given  by  the  Treasu- 
rer (if  any  is  deemed  necessary)  for  the  faithful  perform- 
ance of  the  duties  of  his  office.  And  shall  also  be  the 
judges  to  determine  the  sufficiency  of  the  securities  of- 
fered by  him  ;  which  bond  when  executed,  is  to  be  left 
in  the  custody  of  the  President  for  safe-keeping. 

N.  B.  This  section  modified  by  Synod.  See  on 
"  Salary  of  Treasurer,"  page  30. 

XI. 

All  By-Laws  fonnerly  enacted  are  hereby  re])ealed. 
Vol.  III.,  pp.  32,  35. 


128  DIGEST. 


Note. — This  edition  of  the  Digest  is  intended  prima- 
rily as  a  manual  of  the  legislation  of  General  Synod  re- 
maining in  force  to  the  present  time  (1869).  The  Com- 
mittee has  left  out  such  legislation  as  has  been  repeal- 
ed, or  superseded,  or  has  expired  by  limitation  of  the 
•ubjects  concerning  which  laws  were  passed.  To  ex- 
tend its  usefulness,  there  have  been  embodied,  under 
their  appropriate  headings,  such  permanent  historical 
documents  pertaining  to  the  Church  as  have  come  into 
existence  since  the  publication  of  the  last  Digest  in 
1848.  Those  documents  of  this  character  which  were 
embodied  in  the  former  Digest,  such  as  histories  of  the 
formation  of  Synods,  Boards,  &c.,  are  not  repeated  here, 
except  in  one  or  two  instances,  on  subjects  of  especial 
interest.  Any  who  need  to  consult  these  will  find  them 
in  the  Digest  published  in  the  Minutes  of  Synod  for 
1848. 


INDEX.  129 


TIS^DEX 


CHAPTER  I. 

PAGE- 
NAME   OF  THE  ClI[TUCn.  5 

CHAPTER  II. 

C0K8TITUTI0N   OF  THE   CnUKCH.  6 

CHAPTER  III. 

CONSISTOKIES. 

1.  To  obey  Sec.  20,  Art.  I.,  Chap.  I.,  of  the  Constitution ....  6 

2.  To  examine  Synodlcal  Minutes 6 

3.  To  seek  aid  from  the  Board  of  Missions,  through  Classis  7 

4.  To  endeavor  to   support  beneficiaries  recommended  by 

themselves 7 

5.  To  revolce  a  recommendation  when  thought  expedient . .  7 

6.  Have  power  to  decide  on  the  validity  of  Romish  baptism.  8 

7.  To  present  to  Classis  annual  written  and  particular  re- 

ports on  the  state  of  religion 8 

8.  Duty  in  regard  to  Sabbath-Schools .    .  8 

9.~  To  defray  expenses  of  their  ministers  and  elders  attend- 
ing Church  judicatories 8 

10.  To  endeavor  to  obtain  an  interest  in   the  "Widows'  Fund 

for  their  ministers 9 

11.  To  sustain  the  benevolent  operations  of  the  Church 9 

12.  To  render  full  reports  of  membenship  and  contributions.  9 

13.  To  obtain  all  publications  of  the  Board  of  Publication  for 

Pastors'  libraries 10 

14.  Where  there  is  no  settled  pastor,  to  have  collections  or- 

dered by  Synod  taken  up 10 

CHAPTER  IV. 

CLASSES. 

1 .  To  hold  a  free  conversation  on  the  state  of  religion 10 


130  DIGEST. 

2.  Their  Committees  on  Consistorial  Minutes  to  report  mat- 
ters demanding  Classical  action 11 

8.  Bules  for  their  receiving  ministers  or  licentiates  from 

other  denominations 11 

4.  To  guard  against  the  introduction  of  unsound  doctrines. .  IS 
6.  To  require  reports  from  ministers  without  charge 18 

6.  To  take  measures  to  have  the  ordinances  administered  In 

their  vacant  churches     18 

7.  To  nominate  members  of  the  Board  of  Superintendents. .  18 
"6.  How  to  transiiiit  to  Synod  nominations  of  members  of 

Board  of  Superintendents 18 

9.  On  their  Statistical  Eeports 14 

10.  To  decide  on  the  validity  of  Romish  ordination        14 

11.  Cannot  be  represented  in  Synod  until  regularly  organ- 

ized         14 

12.  Not  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation  on  the  ground  of  ex- 

pediency    15 

18.  May  dismiss  a  member  to  a  body  not  in  connection  with 

the  Eeformed  Church 15 

14.  To  keep  a  lemma  entitled  "  Education."     15 

15.  To  keep  a  lemma  entitled  "  Benevolent  Institutions."...  16 

16.  To  make  special  inquiry  in  relation  to  beneficiaries  recom- 

mended by  them  16 

17.  To  inquire  in  relation  to  indigent  young  men  desirous  of 

entering  the  ministry 16 

18.  To  comply  with  the  Constitution  in  relation  to  the  pres- 

ence of  Deputati  at  examinations 17 

19.  To  give  special  attantion  to  the  catechetical  instruction 

of  the  young 17 

20.  To  endeavor  to  support  beneficiaries  recommended  by 

them 17 

21.  Classis  of  Arcot  may  be  represented  by  letter  17 

22.  May  express  to  Synod  their  views  on  acts  of  Synod 18 

23.  Not  to  examine  students  during  the  week  of  the  meeting 

of  the  Board  of  Superintendents. 18 

24.  Reports  on  the  state  of  religion  to  contain  a  synopsis  of 

statements  of  Consistories 18 

25.  To  furnish    Consistories  blank  forms  for  statistical  re- 

ports          18 

26.  To  arrange  for  p-iyment  of  apportionment  of  contingent 

expenses  of  Synod 18 

27.  To  report  P.  O.  addresses  of  ministers  without  charge. ..  19 


INDEX.  131 

28.  To  take  steps  to  have  tho  claims  of  all  the  Boards  pre- 

sented to  their  churches 19 

29.  To  report  names  of  ministers  without  charge,  with  cer- 

tain notes 19 

80.  May  receive  churches  which  use  tho  Scottish  version  of 

the  Psalms 20 

31.  To  use  care  in  recommending  churches  to  the  Board  of 

Domestic  Missions 20 

82.  To  have  the  Van  Benschoten  Bequest  read  in  full 20 

33.  To  provide  at  fall  session  for  payment  of  Minutes  of  Sy- 
nod   20 

84.  To  endeavor  to  secure  a  due  share  of  church  contribu- 

tions for  our  own  Boards 21 

85.  To  spend  one  hour  at  every  regular  session  in  prayer  and 

conference  on  benevolence  21 

CHAPTER  V. 

SYNODS. 
A.   GENERAL   SYNOD. 

Sec.     1.  Eules  of  Order        i 21 

2.  Its  powers  at  a  special  meeting  29 

3.  Expenses  of  delegates  to  be  paid   29 

4.  Credentials  of  delegates  29 

5.  Arrangement  of  Minutes 29 

6.  Stated  Clerk  to  have  charge  of  accounts  for  Minutes. ...  80 

7.  Salary  of  Treasurer ...  80 

8.  Permanent  Clerk  and  his  salary.  81 

B.    PAETICULAR   SYNODS. 

Sec.     1.  To  administer  Lord's  Supper 81 

2.  Anniversaries  connected  with  them  81 

3.  To  send  to  General  Synod  answers  given  to  second  and 

third  constitutional  questions 81 

4.  To  embody  extracts  from  minutes  of  Classes  on  state  of 

religion 82 

6.  Particular  Synod  of  Chicago  organized 32 

6.  To   furnish   Classes  with  blank   forms  for   statistical  re- 

ports                  82 

7.  To  insert  in  their  Minutes  a  tabular  summary  of  statis- 

tics   32 

8.  Eastern  Synods  to  visit  Western  by  delegates  82 


132  DIGEST. 

9.  To  extend  time  of  their  meetings,  &c 83 

10.  To  send  at  least  ten  copies  of  tlieir  Minutes  annually  to 

General  Synod 33 

11.  Arrangements    to  organize    Particular    Synod  of  New 

Brunswick 33 

CHAPTER  VI. 

BOARDS   OF   THE    CUL'RCH. 
A.   BOAKD    OF   DIRECTION. 

Sec.     1.  Act  of  Incorporation 33 

(b)  Change  by  Legislature  of  New  York 84 

2.  By-Laws 35 

3.  To  collect  certain  funds        ... 86 

4.  To  fill  vacancies  in  their  number  87 

5.  To  manage  all  Synod's  property 37 

6.  To  use  name  "  Board  of  Direction  of  the  Corporation."..  37 

7.  To  manage  Widows'  Fund .     37 

8.  To  prepare  the  annual  Digest 37 

9.  May  hold  real  estate  in  New  Jersey        38 

10.  To  hold  filnds  for  scholarships 38 

11.  To  receive  deeds  for  Rutgers  College 38 

12.  To  execute  certain  leases 38 

13.  To  obtain  list  of  securities  of  the  "Van  Benschoten  Fund. .  38 

14.  To  pay  expenses  of  President  to  open  Synod 38 

15.  To  borrow  money  to  pay  salaries 89 

16.  May  hold  property  in  Michigan 89 

B.   BOARD   OF   DOMESTIC   MISSIONS. 

Sec.     1.  Plan  adopted  by  General  Synod 39 

2.  "When  not  to  make  appropriations     41 

8.  To  organize  churches  through  Chassis 41 

4.  To  require  Classical  reconunendation 42 

5.  May  appoint  Commissioners 42 

6.  May  fund  legacies.  i 42 

7.  Not  to  interfere  with  ecclesiastical  judicatories 42 

8.  Terms  of  honorary  membership. 43 

9.  Not  to  employ  ministers  of  other  denominations  as  mis- 

sionaries    43 

10.  To  obtain  information  from  Stated  Clerks 48 

11.  Method  of  establishing  missions  43 

12.  Corresponding  Secretary  to  visit  the  "West  annually 44 


INDEX.  133 

13.  To  secure  $50,000  for  a  Church  Building  Fund 44 

14.  To  enlist  prominent  and  able  men  for  service., 44 

15.  Not  to  encroach  on  ground  already  occupied   by  Presby- 

terian Church 46 

C.   BOABD   OF   FORBIGIT  MIBSIONB. 

1.  Plan  adopted  by  General  Synod 45 

2.  Corresponding  Secretary  to  present  claims  of  the  foreign 

field  to  students  45 

3.  Authorized  to  apply  for  act  of  incorporation 45 

4.  To  open  a  credit  of  £8,000  for  operations  abroad 45 

D.   BOARD   OF  EDUCATION. 

1.  Plan  adopted  by  General  Synod 47 

2.  To  donate  $30  to  each  beneficiary  on  completing  his  The- 

ologic.ll  course 61 

8.  To  accept  two  years  missionary  service  as  repayment —  51 

4.  Authorized  to  appoint  a  Corresponding  Secretary  61 

5.  Appropriations  to  be  $150  per  annum 52 

6.  To  determine  amount  of  Secretary's  salary 52 

7.  To  record  terms  of  bequests 52 

8.  Power  to  fill  vacancies  52 

9.  Church  or  Classis  to  make  efforts  to  sustain  a  beneficiary 

recommended  52 

10.  To  seek  repayment  in  certain  cases 58 

11.  Beneficiaries  must  need  the  aid 68 

12.  To  use  care  in  receiving  beneficiaries  58 

18.  Rights  and  duf.es  of  Classes,  &c.,  in  relation  to  benefic- 
iaries     64 

14.  Board  to  have  discretionary  power  in  regard  to  place  of 

literary  study 64 

15.  Names  of  beneficiaries  not  to  be  published 54 

16.  Powers  enlarged  to  aid  Academies 55 

E.   BOARD   OF   PUBLICATION. 

1.  Publication  Committee  and  lemma  ordered 56 

2.  Plan  adopted  by  Synod 56 

8.  Church  Schools  to  use  their  books 58 

4.  To  issue  the  Psalmody  of  the  Church 68 

6.  To  print  the  Liturgy  in  German 68 


134  DIGEST. 

F.   VABIOUB  HATTERS  COXCERNINQ  THE  BOABDS. 

Bee.     1.  Kecommendatlons  of  Synod  not  imperative  obligations..  S8 
2.  Corresponding  Secretary  and  Treasurer  of  each  Board  are 

ex-offlcio  members 09 

8.  Names  of  officers  and  members  to  be  published  in  Min- 
utes of  Synod 69 

4.  Financial  year  to  end  April  30 69 

6.  Places  of  members  absent  one  year  continuously  to  be 

filled         59 

6.  Eeports  to  be  printed  before  meeting  of  Synod 59 

7.  Eeports  to  be  done  up  with  Minutes  of  Synod 60 

8.  Pastors  and  Consistories  to  try  to  raise  the  standard  of 

beneficence 60 

9.  Tabular  statements  to  be  inserted  in  Minutes  of  Synod. .  60 

10.  Use  of  moneys  collected  for  Sabbath-School  purposes 60 

11.  Youth  to  be  trained  to  systematic  beneficence 61 

12.  Secretaries  to  report  pastors  and  churches  not  contribut- 

ing for  two  years 61 

CHAPTER  VII. 

EDUCATIONAL  INSTITUTIONS. 
A.      THEOLOGICAL   SEMINARY  AT  NEW^   BRUNSWICK. 

Bee.      1.  Plan  of  the  School 61 

Art.     1.  Oversight  by  General  Synod 62 

2.  "  by  Board  of  Superintendents 62 

8.  "  by  Professors 63 

4  Qualifications  and  duties  of  students 64 

5.  Time  and  course  of  study 66 

6.  Didactic  Department 67 

Sec.     2.  Recommendations  to  students 68 

8.  Theological  Professors,  guardians  of  beneficiary  students  69 

4.  Re-arrangement  of  Seminary  year  69 

6.  Members  of  Board  of  Superintendents  must  belong  to 

the  Classes  which  they  represent. 69 

6.  A  yearly  detailed  report  of  every  student  to  be  made. . .  69 

7.  Expenses  of  members  of  the  Board  to  be  paid  by  their 

Classes 70 

A.   (a).      HERTZOQ  HALL. 

Bee.    1,  Standing  Committee  appointed 71 


INDEX.  135 

2.  Committee  to  make  rules 71 

3.  Modification    of   Committee.      Difficulties    referred    to 

Board  of  Superintendents 71 

B.      THEOLOGIOAL   SEMINARY    AT   HOLLAND. 

Sec.    1.  Preliminary  arranjrements 78 

2.  Council  of  Hope  College  to  act  as  Board  of  Superintend- 
ents      78 

C.      RUTGERS   COLLEGE. 

Sec.    1.  Articles  of  Agreement  between  Synod    and    Trustees 

modified 74 

2.  Board  of  Direction  to  convey  title  to  College  property  to 

Trustees 74 

8.  SjTiod  relinquishes  appointment  of  Professor  of  Theology 

in 74 

4.  Synod  informed  of  Trustees'  consent 74 

D.      HOPE   COLLEGE. 

Sec.    1.  Holland  Academy  taken  under  care  of  SjTiod     74 

2.  Title  of  property  confirmed  to  Synod 74 

8.  Plan  of  support  and  supervision 75 

4.  Endowment  directed  77 

5.  x\.rrangements  to  secure  College  charter  78 

6.  Vacancies  in  Board  to  be  filled 78 

7.  President  to  report  to  Synod 78 

8.  Articles  of  Incorporation 79 

9.  Changes  in  Council  85 

CHAPTEPw  VIII. 

FUNDS  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

Sec.    1.  Means  of  meeting  deficiency 86 

A.    widows'  fund.  85 

Sec.    1.  Plan  of  the  Fund 85 

2.  Classes  to  induce  churches  to  secure  an  interest  for  their 

pastors ...  89 

3.  Classis  to  appoint  a  member  to  solicit  subscriptions 90 

4.  Classes  to  carry  out  the  plan  of  agencies  for 90 

B.    DISABLED    ministers'    FTND. 

Sec,    1.  Plan  Oi  the  Fund 90 


136  DIGEST. 

C.      CHURCH   BUILDING   FUND. 

Bee.    1.  Plan  of  the  Fund 81 

2,  Moneys  solicited  for  churches,  etc.,  to  be  secured  to  the 

denomination 93 

CHAPTER  IX. 

CHURCH  GOVERNMENT. 

Bee.    1.  Order  of  Judicial  Business 93 

2.  Lower  judicatories  must  act  under  the  laws  93 

3.  Dissolution  of  a  church  relation 94 

4.  Synod  will  not  legislate  on  abstract  questions 94 

6.  Ministers  and  members,  on  removing:,  to  transfer  relation 

Avithin  one  year 94 

6.  Deputati  Synodi 96 

7.  Subjects  of  Baptism 95 

8.  Ministers  without  charge , 9€ 

9.  Candidates 97 

10.  Professor  of  Theology .97 

11.  Rights  of  collegiate  ministers 98 

12.  Transfer  of  baptized  children 98 

13.  Provision  for  payment  of  assessment  for  contingent  ex- 

penses    98 

14.  Stated  Clerks  of  Classes  to  fill  the  column  of  "Total  in 

Communion" 9^ 

15.  Directions  for  Consistorial  Reports 99 

16.  Ministers  and  Consistories  to  have  collections  ordered  by 

Synod  taken  up lOO 

CHAPTER  X. 

DOCTRINES  AND   M0EAL8. 

Sec    1.  Marriage  of  deceased  wife's  sister." lOO 

2.  Dancing 100 

8.  Catechetical  instruction 101 

4.  Intemperance 101 

6   Sabbath  observance 102 

6.  "  Mercersberg  Theology"  disapproved 108 

7.  Betting  and  games  of  chance 108 


INDEX.  187 

CHAPTER  XI. 

OIJ8TOM8   AND   USAGES. 

See.    1.  Essential  and  non-essential  customs 104 

2.  "  Forms  "  of  the  Church. 106 

8.  Revision  of  Sacramental  Forms  not  adopted 108 

4.  In  co-operation  with  others,  our  standards  to  be  guard- 
ed  106 

6.  Catechetical  instruction  and  preaching . .  107 

CHAPTER  XII. 

COBRB8PONDENCE  WITH  OTHSB  CHUBCHE8. 

Bbc.     1.  The  subject  in  general 107 

2.  Correspondence  with  the  Presbjrterian  Church     108 

8.  Privileges  of  Delegates 110 

4.  With  R.  D.  C.  of  S.  Africa  and  the  Waldenses 110 

6.  "With  the  Free  Church  of  Scotland  110 

6.  With  the  German  Reformed  Church 110 

7.  With  the  Reformed  and  United  Presbyterian  Churches ..  Ill 

8.  With  the  Canada  Presbyterian  Church Ill 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

BELIGI0C8   NEWSPAPERS. 

B«c.    1.  Board  of  Publication  to  issue  a  monthly Ill 

2.  The  Boards  of  the  Church  to  use  it HI 

8.  Pastors  and  Consistories  to  endeavor  to  secure  its  intro- 
duction into  every  family 112 

4.  A  weekly  paper  essential 112 

5.  Company  to  be  incorporated  to  publish  one.    112 

CHAPTER  XIV. 

PARTICULARIA. 

B»o.    1.  Union  of  Church  and  State 118 

2.  Funeral  Service 114 

8.  Days  of  Humiliation  and  Prayer 114 

4.  Psalm  book  not  to  be  a  source  of  profit.     114 

6.  Sacred  Music 116 


188  DIGEST. 

6.  Act  of  New  York  Legislature  with  reference  to  religious 

incorporations 115 

7.  Eeport  on  the  State  of  Eeligion  to  be  read  from  the  pul- 

pit  116 

8.  Titles  to  be  omitted  in  recording  names  in  Minutes 116 

9.  Column  for  contributions  in  the  Statistical  Tables 117 

10.  Stated  Clerk  to  distribute  Minutes  to  institutions 117 

11.  Expenses  of  Western  Delegates 117 

12.  Minutes  of  Synod  to  be  published  as  soon  as  practicable  117 

13.  Article  XIII.  of  Minutes  changed  to  "  Church  Colleges"  117 

14.  "Theological    School"     in     Constiiution.    changed    to 

"  Schools  " 118 

15.  "  Hymns  of  the  Church  "  approved  and  recommended. . .  118 

16.  Eeports  of  Delegates  not  to  be  printed  in  the  Minutes.  .118 

17.  New  Hymns  approved 118 

18.  Classis  of  Holland  to  translate  the  Constitution  into 

HoUandish 118 

APPENDIX. 

Particular  Synods 119 

Amended  By-Laws  of  Board  of  Direction 123 


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